The Ides of Texas (Don’t Fence Me In)

Lyrics

[Intro,spoken] Some of America's most beautiful ballads Come from the land of the sagebrush and sun The Great Southwest [Verse 1] You've heard how us folks down in Texas Boast of our home in the West You've heard us a-sayin' in Texas That things are the biggest and best [Verse 2] Well, a few months ago in the papers A fabulous story come out Which proves that us folks down in Texas Know what we're talkin' about [Verse 3] Here's to a guy with a big Texas smile Who knows what it means to have real Texas style Here's to a feller who couldn't think small Here's to the biggest embezzler of all [Chorus] Billie Sol Estes, we're proud of ya, son Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie Ya had to be Texan to do what ya done Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol [Verse 4] While other kids saved up their nickels and dimes For jellybeans, licorice and fudge Well, Billie saved, too, and when he had enough He bought him a federal judge [Verse 5] While still in his teens he was very perplexed As to what field his fortune was hid (Banking! Finance?) His uncle suggested he go into steel And that's just what Billie Boy did [Chorus] Billie Sol Estes, that boy really cooks Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie He had one shinin' purpose and two sets of books Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol [Verse 6] There once was a senator Bill tried to bribe So, Bill had a wonderful notion (What a friend we have in Billie) He sent him a yacht but that wasn't enough So, Billie boy threw in an ocean [Chorus] Billie Sol Estes, we're proud of ya, mate Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie It's hombres like you that make Texas so great Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol [Bridge] B is for the billions he's been bilkin' (Good ol' billion-bilkin' Billie) I is to indemnify his loss (They use a lot of ammonia up there, Billie That's why they call it the White House) L is for the loans from Uncle Sammy (Why, thank ye, Cousin Orville) Then double L just like in double cross, double cross I is for the interest he's accruin' (Praise the Lord and pass the fertilizer, Billie) E is for the eggheads he outsmarts Put them all together, you've got Billie Sol Whose initials are emblazed on our hearts B S [Chorus] Billie Sol Estes, we're proud of ya, boy Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie And next to you Jimmy Hoffa is Lord Fauntleroy Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol [Verse 7] Now, they're gonna take Billie away to the clink And the way things look now it appears For all of the wheelin' and dealin' he's done He'll get three thousand four hundred years [Bridge] Oh, give me land, lots of land (And the day they are leadin' ol' Billie away) Under starry skies above Don't fence me in (Why, each Texan will take off his hat) Let me ride through (For who but a Texan) the wide-open country that I love (In all this wide world) Could pull down a sentence like that? [Chorus] Billie Sol Estes, you're really a doll Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie There's Houston and Crockett and now Billie Sol (And remember, Billie Boy, we're behind ya all the way Me and Ladybug) Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Sol Estes