"The Ides Of Texas (Don't Fence Me In)" lyrics - THE CHAD MITCHELL TRIO

Some of America's most beautiful ballads
Come from the land of the sagebrush and sun,
The great Southwest.

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

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 talking about

Here's to a guy with a big Texas smile
Who knows what it means to have real Texas style
Here's to a fella who couldn't think small
Here's to the biggest embezzler of all!

Sol Estes Billie Sol Estes, we're proud of you son
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie!)
You had to be Texan to do what you done
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol!)
While other kids saved up their nickels and dimes
For jellybeans, liq'rice, and fudge,
Well Billie saved too
And when he had enough
He bought him a federal judge!
While still in his teens he was very perplexed
As to what field his fortune was hid
His uncle suggested he go into steel
And that's just what Billie boy did!

Billie Sol Estes, that boy really cooks
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie!)
He had one shining purpose
And two sets of books
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol!)

There once was a senator Bill tried to bribe
So Bill had a wonderful notion
Oh, what a friend we have in Billie!
He sent him a yacht but that wasn't enough
So Billie boy threw in an ocean!

Billie Sol Estes, we're proud of you 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!)
B is for the billions he's been bilkin'
Good ole 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, Freeman Cousin Orville!
Then double L just like in 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.

Billie Sol Estes, we're proud of you boy
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie!)
Next to you Jimmy Hoffa is Lord Fauntleroy
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Sol!)
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

Counterpoint:
Oh, give me land, lots of land,
Under starry skies above
Don't fence me in
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love -

And the day they lead old Billie away
Why, each Texan will take off his hat
For who but a Texan
In all this wide world
Could pull down a sentence like that?

Billie Sol Estes, you're really a doll
(Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Billie Billie!)
There's Houston Houston - and Crockett Crockett -
And now Billie Sol!
And remember, Billie boy,
We're behind you all the way -
Me and Bird Johnson Ladybug -
Hey Billie Billie, hey Billie Sol Estes!