The Cowboys' Christmas Ball

Intro: e|--------------4-------------------------|-----------------4-----------------------| B|-----6-----7-----6----------------------|-------6-----7------6--------------------| G|--6--------------------6--------6-------|----6--------------------6---------5--6--| D|-----------------------------8-----6----|-------------------------------8---------| A|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| E|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------| Way out in North Nevada, where the Trukee's waters flow Where the cattle are "a-browzin'' and the Spanish ponies grow Where the Norther comes 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 blue-birds are singin' to the lovely "medder lark" Where the big horns are grazin' and the lonely plovers call It was there that I attended "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball" Intro The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles The ladies "kinder 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 "wimmin folks" looked lovely, the boys looked kinder treed Till their leader commenced yellin': "Hey, fellers, let's stampede" The music started sighin' and a-wailin' through the hall As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball" Intro The leader was a fellow that came from Swenson's Ranch They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Dead-man's Branch" His rig was "kinder keerless," big spurs and high-heeled boots He had the reputation that comes when "fellers shoots" His voice was like the bugle upon the mountain's height His feet were animated, an' a mighty movin' sight When he commenced to holler, "Now, fellers, stake yer pen! Come on! lock horns to all them heifers, an' russle 'em like men Saloot yer lovely critters; now swing an' let 'em go Climb the grape vine round 'em, all hands do-ce-do! And Mavericks, jine the round-up, jest skip her waterfall" Huh! hit wuz gittin' happy, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball!" Intro Don't tell me about 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 fronteer breakdown, backed up by Wild Bill McAllister ain't nowhere! when Windy leads the show I've seen 'em both in harness, an' so I sorter know Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget yer, and I'll oftentimes recall That lively-gaited sworray, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball" Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget yer, and I'll oftentimes recall That lively-gaited sworray, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball" Outro: