She could dance and slow you 'bout, shuffle to some cowboy hustle
How she made them trophy buckles shine, shine, shine
Wild-eyed in Mexican silver, tricking 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 sliding, barrel riding Rita Ballou
Ain't a cowboy in Texas would not ride a bull for you

She's a rawhide roping velvet mixture, walking, talking 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 sliding, barrel riding 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
Lord, 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 sliding, barrel riding 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