Old Red

Chris LeDoux · Other Songs - Chris LeDoux

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