The Cowboys' Christmas Ball
Way out in Old Nevada
Where the Truckee's waters flow
Where the cattle are a-browzin'
And 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 cayotes 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
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 wimmin folks looked lovely
The boys looked kinda treed,
Till the leader got to yellin'
"Hey! fellers, let's stampede",
And the music started sighin',
And 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 the mountainous height
His feet were animated
And a mighty, movin' sight,
When he commenced to hollerin',
"Now, fellers stake your pen!
Lock horns with all them heifers,
And russle 'em like men.
Saloot yer lovely critters,
now swing and 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! hit wuz gettin' happy,
The Cowboys' Christmas Ball!
Don't tell me 'bout cotillions,
Or germans. No sire '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 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 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