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 our 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.