Old Red - Chris Ledoux

Old Red was one of the orniest yet

I’d 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 plains

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 McLean

And Billy had never been thrown

The greatest desire filled 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 shoot

He was kicking and stomping about

Billy climbed into the saddle with ease

And yelled turn him loose let us out

Old Red came out with his head on the ground

His back hooves were touching his nose

Trying to get rid of the man on his back

But the man went wherever he’d go

Billy was raking Old Red with his spurs

From his tail to the tip of his chin

He was doing right well, but Billy could tell

This outlaw would never give in

Old Red was running straight for the fence

Suddenly stopping and then

He reared on his hind legs then fell on his back

Taking 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 trying to throw Billy off his back

Old Red broke his neck when he fell

Out in the west is a place where they rest

This cowboy that never was thrown

And one foot away resting there 'neath the clay

Is the outlaw that never was rode