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THE COWBOYS' BALL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip! Tunin' up the fiddle
Last Line: But this beats dancin' at the cowboys' ball.
Subject(s): Cowboys; Dancing & Dancers; Ranch Life; West (u.s.); Southwest; Pacific States


YIP! Yip! Yip! Yip! tunin' up the fiddle;
You an' take yo'r pardner there, standin' by the wall!
Say "How!" make a bow, and sashay down the middle;
Shake yo'r leg lively at the Cowboys' Ball.

Big feet, little feet, all the feet a-clickin';
Everybody happy an' the goose a-hangin' high;
Lope, trot, hit the spot, like a colt a-kickin';
Keep a-stompin' leather while you got one eye.

Yah! Hoo! Larry! would you watch his wings a-floppin'
Jumpin' like a chicken that's a-lookin' for its head;
Hi! Yip! Never slip, and never think of stoppin',
Just keep yo'r feet a-movin' till we all drop dead!

High heels, low heels, moccasins and slippers;
Real old rally round the dipper and the keg!
Uncle Ed's gettin' red — had too many dippers;
Better get him hobbled or he'll break his leg!

Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip! tunin' up the fiddle;
Pass him up another for his arm is gettin' slow.
Bow down! right in town — and sashay down the middle;
Got to keep a-movin' for to see the show!

Yes, mam! Warm, mam? Want to rest a minute?
Like to get a breath of air lookin' at the stars?
All right! Fine night — Dance? There's nothin' in it!
That's my pony there, peekin' through the bars.

Bronc, mam? No, mam! Gentle as a kitten!
Here, boy! Shake a hand! Now, mam, you can see;
Night's cool. What a fool to dance, instead of sittin'
Like a gent and lady, same as you and me.

Yip! Yip! Yip! Yip! tunin' up the fiddle;
Well, them as likes the exercise sure can have it all!
Right wing, lady swings, and sashay down the middle ...
But this beats dancin' at the Cowboys' Ball.





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