Double Bow Knot

Found in “Cowboy Dances,” by Lloyd Shaw, all editions, pp 359-360.

Head two ladies lead out to the right

Circle three with all your might

Just once around and Double bow knot

(The three people circle far enough so that when the two ladies let go hands, the line of three that is formed with the side men in the center of the line are facing to the middle of the set. Then the center gent raises his right hand, sending the left hand lady under an arch made between him and his partner and he turns under his own right arm (dishrag) to face out of the set. Then the three do a second similar action but this time sending his partner under an arch formed by his left hand and that of the head lady. This time, he does a dishrag by turning under his own left arm to face back in, sending the head lady on to the next man to his right and his own partner to the man to his left.)

With the right hand high and the left one low

Now one more time before you go

With the left hand high and the right one low

Send them on to the next and circle three

Circle three with all your might

Just once around and Double bow knot

With the right hand high and the left one low

Now one more time before you go

With the left hand high and the right one low

Send them on to the next and circle three

Circle three with all your might

Just once around and Double bow knot

With the right hand high and the left one low

Now one more time before you go

With the left hand high and the right one low

All the ladies go home and everybody swing

Swing your partner, swing, swing

Note: A variation to this figure can be done by forming the lines of three at the sides (or heads) and then having the threes pass through before doing the double bow knot and sending the women to the head (side) men to form new threes. Since the men are moved across the set from home each time they do the pass through, the figure must be performed four times to return all men to their own home place.