Old Red was one of the orneriest yet Id seen at the big rodeo Hed 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 wasnt about to be tamed From Idaho a young cowboy came To ride in the big rodeo The young cowboys name was Billy McClain And Billy had never been thrown The greatest desire filled young Billys heart To ride this old outlaw called Red He drew him one day and I heard Billy say Ill 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 hed 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 Billys last ride The saddle horn crushed Billys 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
billy, red, old, cowboy, outlaw