She could dance and slow you 'bout 
Shuffle to some cowboy hustle
How she made those trophy buckles 
shine, shine, shine.

Wild-eyed in Mexican silver 
Trickin' dumb old cousin Willard
into thinking that he got her this time.



Hill country, honky-tonkin' Rita Ballou
Every beer joint in town has played a fool for you.
Back slidin', barrel ridin' Rita Ballou
Ain't a cowboy in Texas would not ride a bull for you.

She's a rawhide ropin' velvet mixture
Walkin', talkin' Texas texture
High-timing, barroom fixture kind of a girl.

She's a queen of the cowboys
Look at old Willard grinning now, boys 
You'd have thought there's less fools in this world




Hill country, honky-tonkin' Rita Ballou
Every beer joint in town has played a fool for you
Back slidin', barrel ridin' Rita Ballou
Ain't a cowboy in Texas would not ride a bull for you
Good luck Willard, and here's to ya

And here's to Rita, I hope she'll do ya right all night 
But I wish I was a fool in your shoes 
Hill country, honky-tonkin' Rita Ballou 

Every beer joint in town has played a fool for you
Back slidin', barrel ridin' Rita Ballou 
Ain't a cowboy in Texas would not ride a bull for you. 
Lord, I wish I was in Texas, I would ride a bull for you.