Cain’s
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There’s an old ballroom in Tulsa where the history just rains.
Where all the old country stars once played right on North Main.
With a very large hardwood ballroom dance floor called Cain’s.
I love that the place has been kept much longer than my reign.
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Cain’s
There’s an old place in Tulsa that has been touched by the stars,
It was built in 1924 and named the ‘Cain’s Ballroom’ with a bar.
It became famous over the years as the best bands played there.
People came from all over the area to dance, drink, and swear.
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All of my favorite honky tonkers and swingers played there at night.
What a great place that must have been with the music just right.
Hank Williams played right there in that historic building of old,
That is still open today with that fine music still playing so bold.
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Ernest Tubb performed right in that ballroom with his troubadours
With the people in the audience just screaming for some more.
I wish that I could go back and dance on that big ballroom floor.
Loving that old music like “Waltz Across Texas” that I do adore.
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“Ahhh Haaaaa” rang out in that ballroom when Bob Wills hit town.
Bob wrote “Take Me Back To Tulsa” that took away all their frowns.
He played Western swing for those huge crowds right inside Cain’s.
They all came to see Bob Wills play while dancing time and again.
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A little later on down the line, George Jones played at Cain’s too.
I think all the great bands played there before they were through.
I can just hear old George singing his heart out up on that stage,
Wishing I was there losing myself in music while dancing engaged.
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Along about 1999, we hit the doors of Cain’s for a great night.
Leon Raush with The Texas Playboys Swing band was on site.
When we walked in, nostalgia overwhelmed us just like it should,
We were right there where all those great stars had once stood.
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The Texas Playboys were absolutely outstanding playing so well,
We stayed on the floor dancing where the spirits of old dwell.
Kristi and Carl were with us that night enjoying the Swing too.
As I recall, we all had a ball and sucked down a cold one or two.
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The Cain’s Ballroom is rich with history going way back in the past.
Johnny Cash sang a song that captured some history that did last.
“W Lee O’Daniel And The Light Crust Doughboys” was that song.
The words tell a story, so I copied them below as they are not long.
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“W Lee O’Daniels And The Light Crust Boys
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In the town of Tulsa, about thirty years ago
At Cain’s Academy, down in Old Oklahome
Where the dust was blowing but the music was right
And W Lee O’Daniels played all night
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For The Light Crust Dough Boys and W Lee O’Dan
We drove eighty miles through the blowing sand
My thirty-seven Chevy was shooting steam
Coming up the hills, just East of Pawnee.
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But I wouldn’t miss a dance on a Saturday night
For all of them Chevys in the Detroit Line
I can hear that music in my ears
I’m ready to go and I’m shifting my gears.
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So, just pass me the biscuits and give me your hand
You know, you’re my Honey and you know, I’m your man
Listen to that fiddler, making it sing,
And hear the pretty hot mix of a guitar, ring
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Well, I got no trouble and I’m feeling no pain
Got all that good music, blowing in my veins
Let the Light Crust Dough Boys, and Old Pappy Dan
Play us a song that we’ll never forget.
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Now they say, times are rough and that money is tight.
But I don’t care on a Saturday night
I got no money, but I can sing blues
When I feel like dancing, way down in my shoes.
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It was in the town of Tulsa, about thirty years ago
At Cain’s Academy, down in Old Oklahome,
Where the dust was blowing but the music was right
And W Lee O’Daniels played all night”
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Poem only by Bill
Song words by others
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Thanks for reading Cain’s,
Bill