Capo on 1st fret
[C]Way out in North Nevada, where the [F]Trukee's waters[C]waters flow
[C]Where the cattle are "a-browzin'' and the S[F]Spanish ponies[G]ponies grow
[C]Where the Norther comes whistlin' from b[F]beyond the Neutral[C]Neutral strip
[C]And the prairie dogs are sneezin' as[F] if the[G]y had "th[C]e Grip"
Where the co[G]yotes come a-[Am]howlin' round the[F] ranches afte[C]r dark
And the b[G]blue-birds are s[Am]singin' to the [F]lovely "medde[G]r lark"
Where the b[G]big horns are [Am]grazin' and the [F]lonely plover[C]plovers call
It was th[G]there that I at[Am]attended "The [F]Cowboys' C[G]hristm[C]as Ball"
*(REPEAT INTRO)
[C]The boys had left the ranches and c[F]come to town in [C]piles
[C]The ladies "kinder scatterin'" had ga[F]gathered in for[G]for miles
[C]The room was togged out gorgeous with mi[F]mistletoe and[C]and shawls
[C]And candles flickered frescoes ar[F]ound the[G] airy[C] walls
The "wim[G]"wimmin folks" looked [Am]lovely, the[F] boys looked kinde[C]r treed
Till their le[G]leader commenced [Am]yellin': "Hey,[F]"Hey, fellers, let's [G]stampede"
The m[G]music started [Am]sighin' and a-[F]wailin' through th[C]e hall
As a k[G]ind of intr[Am]oduction to "The[F] Cowboys' [G]Christ[C]mas Ball"
*(REPEAT INTRO)
[C]The leader was a fellow that came from S[F]Swenson's [C]Ranch
[C]They called him "Windy Billy," from "[F]"little Dead-man's [G]Branch"
[C]His rig was "kinder keerless," big [F]spurs and high-heeled[C]high-heeled boots
[C]He had the reputation that c[F]omes when "f[G]eller[C]s shoots"
His v[Am]voice was like the bugle [Em]upon the mountain's height
His f[Am]eet were animated, an' a m[F]ighty movin'[G] sight
When [C]he commenced to holler, "Now, fe[F]fellers, stake yer[C]yer pen!
Come on! l[C]ock horns to all them heifers, an' r[F]ussle 'em lik[C]e men
Sa[G]loot yer lovely cr[Am]itters; now[F] swing an' let '[C]em go
Cl[G]Climb the grape vine [Am]round 'em, all[F] hands do-[G]ce-do!
And Mav[G]Mavericks, jine the [Am]round-up, jest[F] skip her w[C]aterfall"
Huh! [G]hit wuz gittin' [Am]happy, "The [F]Cowboys' C[G]Christm[C]hristmas Ball!"
*(REPEAT INTRO)
Don't t[C]ell me about cotillions, or ge[F]rmans. No si[C]r 'ee!
That wh[C]whirl at Carson City just [F]takes the cake wit[G]with me
I'm s[C]sick of lazy shufflin's, of [F]them I've had my[C]my fill
Just g[C]ive me a fronteer breakdown, b[F]acked up by[G] Wild[C] Bill
McA[G]llister ain't no[Am]where! when[F] Windy leads th[C]e show
I've s[G]een 'em both in ha[Am]rness, an[F]' so I sorte[G]r know
Oh, B[G]ill, I sha'n't f[Am]orget yer, and[F] I'll oftentimes[C] recall
That liv[G]ely-gaited s[Am]worray, "The[F] Cowboys' [G]Christ[C]mas Ball"
Oh, [G]Bill, I sha'n't [Am]forget yer, an[F]and I'll oftentime[C]oftentimes recall
That liv[G]ely-gaited s[Am]worray, "The[F] Cowboys' [G]Christ[C]mas Ball"