The Strawberry Roan

I was hangin' 'round town, just spendin' my time

Out of a job, not earnin' a dime

A feller steps up and he said, "I suppose

You're a bronc fighter from looks of your clothes."

"You figures me right, I'm a good one." I claim

"Do you happen to have any bad ones to tame?"

Said "He's got one, a bad one to buck

At throwin' good riders, he's had lots of luck."

I gets all het up and I ask what he pays

To ride this old nag for a couple of days

He offered me ten; I said, "I'm your man,

A bronc never lived that I couldn't span."

He said: "Get your saddle, I'll give you a chance"

In his buckboard we hopped and he drives to the ranch

I stayed 'til mornin' and right after chuck

I stepped out to see if this outlaw can buck.

Down in the horse corral standin' alone

Is an old Caballo, a Strawberry Roan

His legs are all spavined, he's got pigeon toes

Little pig eyes and a big Roman nose

Little pin ears that touched at the tip

A big 44 brand was on his left hip

U-necked and old, with a long, lower jaw

I could see with one eye, he's a regular outlaw.

I gets the blinds on 'im and it sure is a fright

Next comes the saddle and I screws it down tight

Then I steps on 'im and I raises the blinds

Get outta the way boys, he's gonna unwind

He sure is a frog-walker, he heaves a big sigh

He only lacks wings, for to be on the fly

He turns his old belly right up to the sun

He sure is a sun-fishin', son-of-a-gun.

He's about the worst bucker I've seen on the range

He'll turn on a Nickel and give you some change

He hits on all fours and goes up on high

Leaves me a spinnin' up there in the sky

I turns over twice and I comes back to earth

I lights in a cussin' the day of his birth

I know there are ponies that I cannot ride

There's some of them left, they haven't all died.

I'll bet all my money, the man ain't alive

That'll stay with Old Strawberry

When he makes his high dive.