The Cowboys' Christmas Ball

Way out in Old Nevada, where the Truckee's waters flow
Where the cattle are "a-browzin'" an' the Spanish ponies grow
Where the Northers "come a-whistlin'" from beyond the Neutral Strip
And the prairie dogs are sneezin', as if they had "The Grip"
Where the coyotes come a-howlin' 'round the ranches after dark
And the bluebirds are a-singin' to the lovely "meadow lark"
Where the bighorns are a-grazin' and the lonely plovers call
It was there that I attended "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."
(whoo!)

The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles
The ladies — "kinda scatterin'" — had gathered in for miles
The room was togged out gorgeous - with mistletoe and shawls
And candles flickered frescoes, around the airy walls
The women folk looked lovely - the boys looked kinda treed
Till the leader got to yellin': "Hey, fellers, let's stampede"
And the music started sighin', an' awailin' through the hall
As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."

Their leader was a feller that came from Swenson's ranch
They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Deadman's Branch"
His rig was "kinda careless," big spurs and high-heeled boots
He had the reputation that come when "a fellers shoots"
His voice was like a bugle upon a mountainous height
His feet were animated an' a mighty, movin' sight
When he commenced to hollerin', "Now, fellers stake your pen"
"Lock horns with all them heifers, an' russle 'em like men
"Salute yer lovely critters; now swing an' let 'em go
"Climb the grape vine 'round 'em — all hands do-ce-do
"You Mavericks, join the round-up - Just skip her waterfall"
Huh! It was gettin' happy, The Cowboys' Christmas Ball.

Don't tell me 'bout cotillions, or Germans, no sir'ee
That whirl at Carson City just takes the cake with me
I'm sick of lazy shufflin's, of them I've had my fill
Just Give me a frontier break-down, backed up by Wild Ol' Bill.

McAllister ain't nowhere, when Windy leads the show
I've seen 'em both in harness, and so I sorta know
Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget ya, and I'll oftentimes recall
That lively gaited soiree — "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."

Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget ya, and I'll oftentimes recall
That lively gaited soiree — "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."