In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Big Ball
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sleepin' on the ground
Eatin' saltine crackers
Ten cents a pound
[Chorus]
Big ball's in Cowtown
We'll all go down
We'll dance around
I'll go to Cowtown
I'll dance around
Board up your windows
The big boy's in town
[Chorus]
Put on your new shoes
Put on your gown
Shake off them sad blues
The big ball's in town
[Chorus]
Everybody's smilin'
You can't find a frown
The girls are all happy cause
The big ball's in town
Big ball's in Cowtown
We'll all go down
Big ball's in Cowtown
Big ball's in town
The lyrics to Asleep at the Wheel's song "Big Ball And Cow Town" are a celebration of the excitement and joy that comes with the arrival of a big ball in town. The song begins with the lines "workin' on the railroad, sleepin' on the ground, eatin' saltine crackers ten cents a pound," which paint a picture of life on the railroads for laborers. The chorus "Big ball's in Cowtown, we'll all go down, big ball's in Cowtown, we'll dance around" refers to the arrival of a big ball in town and the subsequent celebration that follows. The singer declares, "I'll go to Cowtown, I'll dance around, board up your windows, the big boy's in town" which signifies the anticipation and excitement surrounding the arrival of the big ball.
The lyrics repeatedly refer to the joy and happiness that the big ball brings to the town. The lines "put on your new shoes, put on your gown, shake off them sad blues" captures the celebratory nature of the big ball event. The final verse of the song "everybody's smilin', you can't find a frown, the girls are all happy cause the big ball's in town" further emphasizes the happiness that the big ball brings to the residents of Cowtown.
Line by Line Meaning
Workin' on the railroad
Engaged in manual labor tasks related to laying and maintaining railroad tracks
Sleepin' on the ground
Sleeping on the bare, hard earth without any covering or shelter
Eatin' saltine crackers
Consuming simple, dry, and plain biscuits made out of flour and salt
Ten cents a pound
The cost of saltine crackers per pound, indicating how cheap and inexpensive they are
Big ball's in Cowtown
Referring to a major social event or celebration being held in Cowtown
We'll all go down
Everyone in the town will participate, attend or get involved in the celebration
I'll go to Cowtown
The singer is expressing their desire and excitement to attend the celebration in Cowtown
I'll dance around
The artist intends to join the joyful and lively dance happening in Cowtown
Board up your windows
A warning given to secure homes and buildings, indicating the scale and enthusiasm of the event happening in Cowtown
The big boy's in town
The main attraction or the source of excitement, the one causing the celebration in Cowtown, is present in the town
Put on your new shoes
As a way of getting ready for the celebration in Cowtown, people are putting on their fanciest shoes
Put on your gown
People are dressing up in their finest clothes to participate in the celebration in Cowtown
Shake off them sad blues
Everyone is leaving their sadness or worries aside to enjoy the celebration and be joyful
Everybody's smilin'
Everyone is happy and smiling, enjoying the festive atmosphere
You can't find a frown
No one is unhappy or angry, showing the infectious positive vibe and energy of the celebration in Cowtown
The girls are all happy cause
The female population, in particular, is enjoying the event and feeling happy and joyful
The big ball's in town
The celebration and the source of excitement and entertainment have arrived in Cowtown
Big ball's in Cowtown
A repetition of the song's main idea, emphasizing the significance and enthusiasm of the celebration happening in Cowtown
Big ball's in town
A repetition of the main idea once more, concluding the song with the scale and impact of the event
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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barbara desimine
Puts a smile on my face every time I hear it isnt that what music is all about!
Viva Texas swing!
Custer Ranch
Ray sure does dwarf those guitars. Saw him up close after a live show, and you don't realize how big he is until then.
But he's a real-deal guitar picker! It's not just a prop.
Mike Largent
What a treat. Great musicianship, vocals and performance-Live even!
Karen Murphy
Good ole Texas swing!!
Leo Pistone
43 years they've made me grin and dance, and i can't dance
knucklehead 745
The first Verse is about how Cowtown became Cowtown instead of Dallas. The Story is actually two fold. First, they built the Railroad thru Dallas but they ran out of Money about half way to FtWorth and the Citzens of FtWorth knew the importance of the Railroad so they used their own Money and the Citizens provided their OWN Labor and finished it and FtWorth became the furthest West shipping point for some time in TEXAS. The REAL REASON that FtWorth became the main shipping point for Cattle headed North on Cattle Drives is because Denton County (Next County North of Dallas and FtWorth) had a VERY CORRUPT Sherriff's Office and they were WELL KNOWN for hanging Cowboys for rustling Cattle they didnt rustle and stealing Horses they didnt Steal. As a result you couldn't pay a Cowboy enough Money to drive Cattle out of Dallas so they.moved the Stockyards West to FtWorth and bypassed Denton County. I'm 7th Generation TEXAS and I've lived outside FtWorth and Dallas for 51 years and I can assure you that Denton County TEXAS is, to this day, STILL CORRUPT as Hell itself. 😉🤠 The song Big Balls in Cowtown is about the Annual Cattlemens Ball that still happens every year in FtWorth TO THIS DAY🤠
P.S. Bob Wills is STILL the King 😉🤠
Keith Taylor
I didn't know that! Thanks for the clarification! Texas Swing music always gets me going!