C 
she could dance that slow Uvalde 
F 
shuffle to some cowboy hustle 
C 
how she made them cowboy buckles  
G 
shine, shine, shine 
C 
wild-eyed and Mexican silvered 
F 
trickin' old cousin Willard 
C                               G 
into thinkin that he's got her this time 

F                               C 
hill country honky-tonkin Rita Ballou 
                                        G 
every beer joint in town has played a fool for you 
F                               C 
backslidin' barrel ridin' Rita Ballou 
                                G               C 
ain't a cowboy in Texas would not ride a bull for you  
 
she's a rawhide rope and velvet mixture 
walkin' talkin Texas texture 
hightimin' barroom fixture kind of a girl 
she's the queen of the cowboys 
look at old Willard grinnin' now boys 
you'd of thought there's less fools in this world 
 
Chorus 
 
F 
so good luck Willard and here's to you 
Am 
and here's to Rita and I hope she'll do ya 
G 
right all night 
                              C 
lord I wish I was the fool in your shoes 
 
Chorus