Way out in Old Nevada, where the Truckee's waters flow,
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Where the cattle are "a-browzin'" an' the Spanish ponies grow;
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Where the Northers "come a-whistlin'" from beyond the Neutral Strip;
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And the prairie dogs are sneezin', as if they had "The Grip";
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Where the coyotes come a-howlin' 'round the ranches after dark,
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And the bluebirds are a-singin' to the lovely "meadow lark";
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Where the bighorns are a-grazin' and the lonely plovers call a¢æ¡±
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It was there that I attended "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."
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(whoo!)
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The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles;
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The ladies a¢æ¡± "kinda scatterin'" a¢æ¡± had gathered in for miles..
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The room was togged out gorgeous - with mistletoe and shawls,
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And candles flickered frescoes, around the airy walls.
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The women folk looked lovely - the boys looked kinda treed,
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Till the leader got to yellin': "Hey, fellers, let's stampede!"
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And the music started sighin', an' awailin' through the hall
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As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."
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Their leader was a feller that came from Swenson's ranch,
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They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Deadman's Branch."
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His rig was "kinda careless," big spurs and high-heeled boots;
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He had the reputation that come when "a fellers shoots."
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His voice was like a bugle upon a mountainous height;
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His feet were animated an' a mighty, movin' sight,
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When he commenced to hollerin', "Now, fellers stake your pen!"
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"Lock horns with all them heifers, an' russle 'em like men.
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"Salute yer lovely critters; now swing an' let 'em go,
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"Climb the grape vine 'round 'em a¢æ¡± all hands do-ce-do!
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"You Mavericks, join the round-up - Just skip her waterfall,"
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Huh! It was gettin' happy, The Cowboys' Christmas Ball
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Don't tell me 'bout cotillions, or Germans, no sir'ee!
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That whirl at Carson City just takes the cake with me.
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I'm sick of lazy shufflin's, of them I've had my fill,
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Just Give me a frontier break-down, backed up by Wild Ol' Bill.
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McAllister ain't nowhere, when Windy leads the show,
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I've seen 'em both in harness, and so I sorta know a¢æ¡±
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Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget ya, and I'll oftentimes recall,
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That lively gaited soiree a¢æ¡± "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."
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Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget ya, and I'll oftentimes recall,
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That lively gaited soiree a¢æ¡± "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball."
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The Cowboys' Christmas Ball
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The Killers |