Old Rex

Old Rex he was a cowboy
That's the story that I heard when I was young
Those tales of breaking broncs and riding bulls
Just seemed to roll right off his tongue
Old Rex worked at the feed store
And each day I'd stop to see him after school
I'd find him leaning back on that old chair
In his faded jeans and weathered cowboy boots

Old Rex he'd push that Stetson back and say
Let me tell you something son
A cowboy's life is hard as hell
And his work is never done
Ropin' riding pushing herds
of long horn steers across the dusty plain
Oh but what I'd give to saddle up
And ride into that sunset once again

Rex said he worked the circuit
Riding bulls back when he was a younger man
He claimed he took top buckles
From Fort Worth and up to Denver and Cheyenne
Old Rex he made me promise
And I crossed my heart I'd never tell no one
But it wasn't long fore I was bragging
Bout the things Old Rex said that he'd done

Well, as it turned out the rodeo was coming
And the rumors spread like fire
Whispers said Old Rex would challenge
All those young bull riders to eight seconds or higher
But they laughed Old Rex ain't gonna show
He's too damned old to take this kind of ride
Even if he does climb on a bull
He's sure as hell to come up short tonight

As the last young rider hit the ground
I swear I heard a hush fall on the crowd
The announcer barked hey folks
Looks like we got us a last minute sign up here
That can't be right Rex McCloud
Old Rex will ride Tornado
And that bull is 18 hundred pounds of mean
This has got to be the most unlikely match up
rodeo has ever seen

Man and beast exploded from the gate
On full display the guts and grit and skill
Old Rex hung on with every twist and turn
A testament to iron will
As eight full seconds cleared the clock
Tornado gave one final giant thrust
By the time they'd lured that Brahma off
I saw old Rex just lying in the dust

I raced to reach Old Rex's side
Pushed my way through a crowd had gathered round
In the distance I could hear the scream of siren's
As he lay there on the ground
Then old Rex opened up his eyes
And nodding gave me one last shaky grin
Looks like he got to ride em one last time
Yeah chalk it up it's Old Rex for the win

Old Rex he finally saddled up
And rode into that setting sun again