Old Red Lyrics - 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