Lyrics

 
If you ever go out to the circus 
Where the Wallendas walk on the wire 
I'll tell you a tale to remember 
When the white horses leap rings of fire 
 
It was a cold night in Oklahoma 
The show was about to begin 
The animals they were all restless 
When the star horse she broke from her pen 
 
She was a mare of high spirit 
Just like a whore on Saturday night 
She's kickin' and buckin' past the men who were brushin' 
The elephants lyin' on their sides 
 
Next to the tent sat some lanterns 
They were dangerously close to the hay 
That mare headed straight for those lanterns 
Some fool had put there by mistake 
 
Then up stepped some Indian Cowboy 
His lasso went whirlin' throught the air 
And in the full dead middle of danger 
He roped that runaway mare 
 
Then the elephants raised up their trumpets 
Two of them broke free from their chains 
and they stampeded that Indian Cowboy 
Who had saved the big top from flames 
 
So if you ever go out to the circus 
Where the Wallendas walk on the wire 
You just remember that Indian Cowboy 
When the white horses leap rings of fire
 
 
(From the album The Wheel Still In Spin)
music & lyrics by Joe Ely