*Intro:
       C#5                      F#5     C#5          C#5                      F#5 Ab5 C#5

E  | --------------4------------------------- | -----------------4----------------------- | 
B  | -----6-----7-----6---------------------- | -------6-----7------6-------------------- | 
G  | --6--------------------6--------6------- | ----6--------------------6---------5--6-- | 
D  | -----------------------------8-----6---- | -------------------------------8--------- | 
A  | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | 
E  | ---------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | 



C#5                                  F#5              C#5
Way out in North Nevada, where the Trukee's waters flow
C#5                                          F#5            Ab5
Where the cattle are "a-browzin'' and the Spanish ponies grow
C#5                                       F#5                C#5  
Where the Norther comes whistlin' from beyond the Neutral strip
C#5                                   F#5      Ab5        C#5
And the prairie dogs are sneezin' as if they had "the Grip"

            Ab5            Bb5               F#5            C#5
Where the coyotes come a-howlin' round the ranches after dark
         Ab5              Bb5            F#5            Ab5
And the blue-birds are singin' to the lovely "medder lark"
           Ab5            Bb5              F#5            C#5
Where the big horns are grazin' and the lonely plovers call
         Ab5            Bb5          F#5         Ab5     C#5 
It was there that I attended "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball"

*(REPEAT INTRO)

C#5                                  F#5              C#5
The boys had left the ranches and come to town in piles
C#5                                    F#5            Ab5
The ladies "kinder scatterin'" had gathered in for miles
C#5                                       F#5          C#5
The room was togged out gorgeous with mistletoe and shawls
C#5                                F#5       Ab5    C#5
And candles flickered frescoes around the airy walls

        Ab5                 Bb5         F#5                 C#5
The "wimmin folks" looked lovely, the boys looked kinder treed
             Ab5              Bb5            F#5               Ab5
Till their leader commenced yellin': "Hey, fellers, let's stampede"
     Ab5            Bb5            F#5                 C#5
The music started sighin' and a-wailin' through the hall
      Ab5          Bb5              F#5         Ab5     C#5 
As a kind of introduction to "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball"

*(REPEAT INTRO)

C#5                                       F#5        C#5
The leader was a fellow that came from Swenson's Ranch
C#5                                    F#5                 Ab5
They called him "Windy Billy," from "little Dead-man's Branch"
C#5                                  F#5                    C#5
His rig was "kinder keerless," big spurs and high-heeled boots
C#5                           F#5           Ab5    C#5
He had the reputation that comes when "fellers shoots"

     Bb5                      F5        
His voice was like the bugle upon the mountain's height
     Bb5                        F#5           Ab5
His feet were animated, an' a mighty movin' sight
     C#5                               F#5               C#5   
When he commenced to holler, "Now, fellers, stake yer pen!
          C#5                                   F#5            C#5
Come on! lock horns to all them heifers, an' russle 'em like men

  Ab5                 Bb5         F#5               C#5
Saloot yer lovely critters; now swing an' let 'em go
  Ab5                  Bb5            F#5         Ab5
Climb the grape vine round 'em , all hands do-ce-do!
       Ab5                Bb5            F#5          C#5
And Mavericks, jine the round-up, jest skip her waterfall"
     Ab5               Bb5          F#5         Ab5     C#5 
Huh! hit wuz gittin' happy, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball!"

*(REPEAT INTRO)

       C#5                             F#5           C#5
Don't tell me about cotillions, or germans. No sir 'ee!
       C#5                       F#5                 Ab5
That whirl at Carson City just takes the cake with me
     C#5                          F#5               C#5
I'm sick of lazy shufflin's, of them I've had my fill
      C#5                             F#5          Ab5    C#5
Just give me a fronteer breakdown, backed up by Wild Bill

   Ab5               Bb5         F#5              C#5
McAllister ain't nowhere! when Windy leads the show
      Ab5                 Bb5       F#5           Ab5
I've seen 'em both in harness, an' so I sorter know
     Ab5               Bb5            F#5               C#5
Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget yer, and I'll oftentimes recall
        Ab5           Bb5          F#5         Ab5     C#5 
That lively-gaited sworray, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball"

    Ab5               Bb5            F#5               C#5
Oh, Bill, I sha'n't forget yer, and I'll oftentimes recall
        Ab5           Bb5          F#5         Ab5     C#5 
That lively-gaited sworray, "The Cowboys' Christmas Ball"

*Outro: Ab5 - C#5