Hoe-Down

The dancing pardners, dressed in dungarees, With checkered shirts, and Stetsons, boots and spurs, Are at a wedding. Joy the bride now asks The band to play a tune that she prefers. The fiddle music made ’em tap their toes, But what she wants just brings the place to life: The hoe down wedding is the place to be - And Billy-Bob’s so glad that Joy’s his wife. I shake my head and smile at what I see And hear the whoops and cries, as couples leap; The fiddlers play so fast I can’t resist But soon become a laughing, sweating heap. I step upon my pardner's boot clad toes, And pull her down when I fall to the floor. I laugh so hard I cannot get my breath, But she is angry, branding me a bore. Some stop their dancing just to help me up And wait there as I stumble to a chair. The newlyweds wrapped in each other's arms Dance on as though the rest of us aren't there. This is their day, hope I haven't spoiled it Even a little bit, that would be sad. Most of the guests are crowding to dance floor, But as for me, I'll rest here for a tad. Before too long, I have to shout, “Yee-haa!” I clap my hands and then I stamp my feet. The youngsters feign fatigue and clear the floor And, giggling, watch me leap up from my seat... Written by Jack Horne and Joyce Johnson for Shadow's contest