The Cowboys' Christmas Ball

Way out in Old Nevada where the Truckee's waters flow

Where the cattle are a'browsin' and the Spanish ponies grow

Where the Northerns come a whistling from beyond the neutral strip

And the prairie dogs are sneezing as if they had the grip

Where the coyotes come a'howling around the ranches after dark

And the bluebirds are a'singing to the lovely meadow lark

Where the bighorns are a'grazing and the lonely plovers call

It was there that I attended the Cowboys' Christmas Ball

The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles

The ladies kinda scattering had gathered in for miles

The room was topped out gorgeous with mistletoe and shawls

Candles flickered frescoes around the airy walls

The women folk looked lovely, the boys looked kinda treed

Till the leader got to yelling, hey fellers, let's stampede

And the music started sighing and a wailing 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 feller shoots

His voice was like a bugle upon a mountains high

His feet were animated and a mighty moving sight

When he commenced to hollering now fellers stake your pen

Lock horns with all them heifers and wrestle 'em like men

Salute your lovely critters now swing an let 'em go

Climb the grape vine round them all hands do-si-do

Ye mavericks join the round up, just skip her waterfall

Huh, it was getting happy, Cowboys' Christmas Ball

Don't tell me about Cotillions or Germans, no siree

That whirl to Carson City just takes the cake with me

I'm sick of lazy shufflins of them I've had my fill

Just give me a frontier break down, backed up by Wild 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 shan't forget ya and I'll oftentimes recall

That lively gaited soiree, the Cowboys' Christmas Ball

Oh, Bill, I shan't forget ya and I'll oftentimes recall

That lively gaited soiree, the Cowboys' Christmas Ball