Steve Cormier, one of the finest of modern cowboy balladeers and erudite to boot, has a song which might be added to this thread for differentiation.


I get into town whenever I can,
First thing I do,
Head for the barbershop,
Gety a shave and a tub.
ANd then down to the Stone Wall,
For a steak and a beer.
Then, a night of dancing,
Hold someone near.
It was there I met her,
In that calico dress,
She could dance the schottische,
Ya should have seen her waltz.

CHO: Sell my horse and saddle,
And cow-driving I'll resign
For just one more look
At that calico dress. I'll sell my horse and saddle,
Cow-driving I'll resign
For just one more look
At that calico dress.

She said her name was Mary,
She ranched west of town.
She only got in
When the need arose.
ANd she said that she liked it out there,
The cholla and the sand,
Said it gave her peace of mind,
Bein' alone.

CHO.

(Instrumental)

We danced the whole night
Mary and me.
Fancy-steppin' fools,
The definition of art.
I can still hear the caller shout,
And hear the fiddler ring.
At first light she rode,
Left with my heart.

CHO.

And I still miss her.
I think about her a lot.
Been twenty-seven years
Since we had that dance.
And I wonder if she went modern
An' got electric lights.
Or if she still reads the Bible
By kerosene at night.

CHO.

Oh, just one more look
At that calico dress.