CAPO: 1st Fret
KEY: Eb/PLAY: D
1)
Old Red was one of the
orn’-ry-est yet
I’d
seen at the big rode
-o
He’d
bite you and kick you and
stomp out your life
Old Red had never been
rode.
2)
Meaner than sin -
wild as the wind
That
blew on the Montana
plains
Old Red was one of the
last of his breed
Was
-n’t about to be
tamed.
3)
From Idaho a
young cowboy came
To
ride in the big rode-
o
The young cowboy’s
name was
Billy McLane
And
Billy had never been
throwed.
4)
The greatest de-
sire 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 ‘im or drop over
dead.”
5)
Old Red was
wicked down
there in the chute
He was
kickin’ and stompin’ a-
bout
Billy climbed
into the
saddle with ease
Then
yelled: “Turn ‘im loose – let us
out.”
6)
Old Red came out with his
head on the ground
His
back hooves were touchin’ his
nose
Tryin’ to get
rid of the
man on his back
But the
man went wherever he’d
go.
7)
Billy was ra
kin’ Old Red
with his spurs
From h
is tail – to the tip of
his chin
He was doin’ r
ight well
– but Billy could tell
This
outlaw would never give in.
8)
Old Red was
runnin’ stra
ight for the fence
Sudden
ly stoppin’ and then
He reared on h
is hind l
egs and fell on his back
Takin
’ poor Billy with him.
9)
There was a hush in the cr
owd and they knew
This
would be Billy’s last ride
The saddle hor
n crushed B
illy’s chest when they fell
And unde
r Old Red Billy died.
10)
Old Red lay stil
l – no more
would he move
Th
e cowboys that seen it – cou
ld tell
In tryin’ to th
row Billy
off of his back
Old R
ed broke his neck when
he fell.
11)O
ut in the west – is the pl
ace where they rest
Thi
s cowboy that never was throwe
d
And one foot
away – rest
ing there ‘neath the clay
Is the – outlaw — that — never — was — rode.