National Finals Rodeo Lyrics - Chris Ledoux

A rodeo's just a rodeo after riding several years 

From ol' Cheyenne to Houston, they never cause too much fear 

But let me tell you about one that will chill your very soul 

It happens in December when it's snowin' and it's cold 

In Oklahoma City there's a building of concrete 

It's where the toughest stock and men will gather and compete 

The points have all been tallied and the stock has all been brought 

We've got just two more hours 'cause it starts at eight o'clock 

It's the Finals, the NFR, the Series of the sport 

Hey rookie, can you take ten head, have you got the heart? 

You think you're a tough cowboy, we'll find out in the end 

When that final whistle blows and the stock's all in the pen 

The coliseum's quiet except for the sounds 

Of cowboys getting ready and the workmen of the grounds 

The cowboys ask each other, what each other's got 

"Did you draw ol' Necklace or pluck old Double-Ought?" 

The tension now is mounting as the crowd starts pouring in 

A shiver goes all through me like from a cold, cold wind 

I hear the horses comin', runnin' down the alleyway 

They're snortin' and a blowin' as men shut the sliding gates 

It's the Finals, the NFR, the Series of the sport 

Hey rookie, can you take ten head, have you got the heart? 

You think you're a tough cowboy, we'll find out in the end 

When that final whistle blows and the stock's all in the pen 

We had too much time a while ago but not enough time now 

The Anthem is now over, the grand entry's going out 

I sit there on my bronc, I'm ready and I wait 

I hear a chute gate open so I look out through the gate 

A horse comes boiling out and blows up at the roof 

And then out comes another kicking like a curly wolf 

I hear the chute boss holler through the yelling of the crowd 

He says, there's one ahead of you so you'd better get screwed down 

It's the Finals, the NFR, the Series of the sport 

Hey rookie, can you take ten head, have you got the heart? 

You think you're a tough cowboy, we'll find out in the end 

When that final whistle blows and the stock's all in the pen 

I nod my head, I'm in a daze, the horse goes boiling out 

I run my spurs into his neck and then I drag 'em out 

My mind is in a blur, my eyes are seeing red 

The flank catch slams into my back, his rump bangs on my head 

From somewhere in the background I can hear a buzzer sound 

My hand's jerked from the riggin' and I crash into the ground 

I stumble to my feet and as I stagger to the wall 

I wonder to myself, is it really worth it all? 

It's the Finals, the NFR, the Series of the sport 

Hey rookie, can you take ten head, have you got the heart? 

You think you're a tough cowboy, we'll find out in the end 

When that final whistle blows and the stock's all in the pen 

It's the Finals, the NFR, the Series of the sport 

Hey rookie, can you take ten head, have you got the heart? 

You think you're a tough cowboy, we'll find out in the end