Old Red

Old Red was one of the orneriest yet I've seen at the big rodeo He'd bite you and kick you and stomp out your life Old Red had never been rode Meaner than sin, wild as the wind That blew on the Montana plain Old Red was one of the last of his breed And wasn't about to be tamed From Idaho a young cowboy came To ride in the big rodeo The young cowboy's name was Billy McClain And Billy had never been thrown The greatest desire filling young Billy's heart To ride this old outlaw called Red He drew him one day and I heard Billy say "I'll ride him or drop over dead" Old Red was wicked down there in the chute He was kicking and stomping about Billy climbed in to the saddle with ease Then yelled "Turn him loose, let us out" Old Red came out with his head on the ground His back hooves were touching his nose Tryin' to get rid of the man on his back But the man went wherever he'd go Billy was rakin' Old Red with his spurs From his tail to the tip of his chin He was doin' right well, but Billy could tell This outlaw would never give in Old Red was runnin' straight for the fence Suddenly stoppin' and then He reared on his hind legs and fell on his back Takin' poor Billy with him There was a hush in the crowd and they knew This would be Billy's last ride The saddle horn crushed Billy's chest when they fell And under Old Red Billy died Old Red lay still, no more would he move The cowboys that seen it could tell In tryin' to throw Billy off of his back Old Red broke his neck when he fell Out in the West is the place where they rest This cowboy that never was thrown And one foot away restin' there 'neath the clay Is the outlaw that never was rode --- Old Red - Marty Robbins