Song Lyrics

Old Red was one of the orneriest 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 McClain
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 chute
He was kickin' and stompin' about
Billy dropped into the saddle with ease
And said, "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 of 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 bucking straight for the fence
Suddenly stopped in 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
For 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 resting there neath the clay
Is the outlaw that never was rode

Marty Robbins

The duration of Old Red is 2:44 minutes and seconds.