Indian Cowboy (Joe Ely)
as performed by Townes van Zandt


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If you ever go out to the circus
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Where the Wallendas walk on the wire
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I'll tell you a tale to remember
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When the white horses leap rings of fire


It was a cold night in old Oklahoma
And the show was about to begin
The animals they was all restless
When the star-horse broke from her pen

Well, she was a mare of high spirits
Like a whore on a Saturday night
Just a-kickin' and a-buckin' while the men were a-brushin'
The elephants lined on the side

Now close to the tent sat a lantern
It was dangerously close to the hay
That mare headed straight for that lantern
Some fool had left by mistake

Then up jumps an Indian Cowboy
And his lasso he throws through the air
Smack-dab in the middle of danger
He ropes the runaway mare

And the elephants raised up their trumpets
And one of them broke from her chains
Stampeded that Indian Cowboy
Who just saved the big-top from flames

So if you ever go out to the circus
Where the Wallendas walk on the wire
Remember that Indian Cowboy
The ring of fire