She could dance that slow Uvalde 
Shuffle to some cowboy hustle 
How she made them trophy buckles shine, shine, shine 
Wild-eyed and Mexican silvered, 
Trickin' dumb ol' cousin Willard 
into thinkin that he's got her this time 

Chorus 
Hill country honky-tonkin Rita Ballou 
Every beer joint in town has played a fool for you 
Backslidin' barrel ridin' Rita Ballou 
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 
High-timin' 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 

So good luck Willard and here's to you 
And here's to Rita and I hope she'll do ya right all night 
Lord I wish I was the fool in your shoes 

Chorus