Chords for Michael Martin Murphey Cowboy Christmas Ball

_ _ [F] _ _ [C] _ _ _ _
_ Way out in West Texas, where the clear Fork [G] waters flow,
Where the cattle are a-browsin' and the Spanish [C] ponies grow,
[Am] Where the northerners [Em] come a-whistlin' [C] and the old dust [G] devils roll,
[C] And the prairie dogs [F] are sneezin' [C] and freezin' from the cold,
Where the lonesome tawny prairies melt into the [G] airy streams,
And the double mountain slumber in the heavenly [C] kind of dreams,
Where the antelope [Em] are grazin' and [F] the lonesome [G] blokes call,
[C] It was there that [F] I attended [C] the cowboy Christmas ball.
_ _ [F] _ _ [C] _ _
_ _ _ The music was a fiddle and a lively [G] tambourine,
And a big bass violin recorded by Stage [C] Mabeline,
[Am] Now the room was [Em] togged out gorgeous [F] with mistletoe [G] and shawl,
[C] And the candles [F] flickered frescoes [C] all around them merry walls,
Where the women folk looked lonely and the boys looked [G] kinda treed,
Till the leader _ called,
Hey boys, let's all [C] stampede!
[Am] And the music [Em] started sighing [F] and it went through [G] the hall,
[C] It was a kind of [F] introduction to the cowboy [C] Christmas ball.
_ _ [F] _ _
[C] _ _ _ _ [G#] _ [C#] The leader was a feller that come from [G#] Swenson's Ranch,
Yep, they called him Windy Bill from Little Dead [C#] Man's Branch,
[A#m] When he [Fm] commenced to holler,
[F#] Now fellers, [G#] stake your pens, [C#] lock horns with [F#] all them heifers,
[C#] And wrestle them just like men, oh!
Salute them lonely critters, now swing them and let [G#] them go,
And climb the grapevine round and round, now hands all [C#] do-si-do,
You mavericks [Fm] join the round up, [F#] just skip the [G#] waterfall,
[C#] Boy, it was [F#] getting active [C#] at the cowboy Christmas ball. _ _
[F#] _ _ [C#] _ _ _ _ [A] _
[D] The boys were tallible skittish, and the ladies [A] powerful neat,
That old bass violin music made us jumpin' with [D] both feet,
[Bm] That wailing [F#m] frisky fiddle [G] I never [A] will forget,
[D] And Windy Bill [G] kept singing, and I believe I [D] hear him yet,
Oh yes, boys, chase them squirrels, cut them to [A] the side,
Now call us to the center, now cross me [D] Charlie's bride,
[Bm] Purr round you [F#m] gentle kittens, [G] now rope and [Am] balance all, [D] oh!
Oh, it was [G] getting happy at the cowboy [D] Christmas ball,
_ _ [G] _ _ _ _ [D] _ _
_ The dust rose fast and furious, and we all just [A] galloped round,
Till the scenery got so giddy, that Z-Bar [D] Dick went down,
[Bm] We buckled [F#m] to our partners, [G] and told them to [A] hold on,
[D] And shook our [G] hooves like light, [D] until the early dawn,
Don't tell me about Cotillion, or Polka's [A] no siree,
That whirl in Manson City, it takes the [D] cake from me,
[Bm] Oh Bill, I [F#m] won't forget you, [G] and I often [A] will recall,
[D] That lively [G] gated soiree, [D] called the cowboy Christmas ball,
Oh no, I [G] won't forget it, [A] the cowboy Christmas [D] ball!
[G] _ _ [D] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
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_ _ [Bm] _ _ _ _ [D] _ _
_ _ _ _ [Em] _ _ [A] _ _
[D] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _