The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball The Killers

[Verse 1]
Way out in Old Nevada, where the Truckee's waters flow
Where the cattle are "a-browsing" and the Spanish ponies grow;
Where the Northers "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"
(whoo!)

[Verse 2]
The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles;
The ladies — "kind of scattering" — 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 yelling: "Hey, fellers, let's stampede!"
And the music started sighing, and availing through the hall
As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys Christmas Ball"

[Verse 3]
Their leader was a feller that came from Swenson's ranch
They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Dead man'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, moving sight
When he commenced to hollering, "Now, fellers stake your pen!"
"Lock horns with all them heifers, and Russel them like men
"Salute yer lovely critters; now swing and let them go
"Climb the grape vine around them — all hands do-ce-do!
"You Mavericks, join the round-up - Just skip her waterfall"
Huh! It was getting happy, The Cowboys Christmas Ball