Big Iron

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say
Well, no one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
A big iron on his hip

Well, it was early in the morning when he rode into the town
He came riding from the south side, slowly lookin' all around
He's an outlaw, loose, and runnin' came the whisper from each lip
And he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip (big iron)

He's a stranger that rode into town one day
(Big iron)
Here to do some business then be on his way

In this town, there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Many men had tried to take him, and that many men were dead
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of 24
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and 19 more
One and 19 more

Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around (ooh, ooh-ooh)
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn't be too long in town (ooh-ooh)
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
And he said it didn't matter he was after Texas Red, after Texas Red

(Big iron) like the dust that's blowin' through this border town
(Big iron) he will chase the storm and take old Texas down (down)

Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
But the outlaw didn't worry, men that tried before were dead
20 men had tried to take him, 20 men had made a slip
21 would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip

Now the morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet (ooh, ooh-ooh)
It was 20 past 11 when they walked out in the street (ooh-ooh)
Folks were watching from the windows, everybody held their breath
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death, about to meet his death

There was 40 feet between them when they stopped to make their play
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Texas Red had not cleared leather 'fore, a bullet fairly ripped
And the ranger's aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip, big iron on his hip

(Big iron) he's a stranger that rode into town one day
(Big iron) here to do some business then be on his way
Big iron (ridin' hell for leather, midnight to the dawn)
(Big iron) he will keep on rolling 'til his life is gone

It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered round
There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground
Well, he might've gone on living, but he made one fatal slip
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip, big iron on his hip