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Big Iron – Marty Robbins (1959)

Marty Robbins - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

About the Song

“Big Iron” is a classic Western ballad written and performed by Marty Robbins. Released in 1959, the song quickly became a hit, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Country chart and No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It has since become a staple of Western music and continues to be popular today.

The song tells the story of a young Arizona Ranger who faces off against a notorious outlaw named Texas Red. The Ranger is known for his quick draw and deadly aim, while Texas Red has a reputation for being able to kill 20 men in a single day. The two men eventually meet in a showdown, and the Ranger is able to defeat Texas Red with his trusty “big iron” gun.

“Big Iron” is a well-written and performed song with a catchy melody and memorable lyrics. The song’s lyrics are full of vivid imagery, and the characters are well-developed. The song’s tempo is fast-paced, and it is a great song for dancing or singing along to.

“Big Iron” is a classic Western ballad that has stood the test of time. It is a great song for fans of Western music or anyone who enjoys a good story.

Marty Robbins | Spotify

Video 

Lyrics: 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
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
Big iron on his hipIt 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 running 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 hipIn 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 twenty four
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
One and nineteen moreNow the stranger started talking made it plain to folks around
Was an Arizona ranger wouldn’t be too long in town
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

Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
But the outlaw didn’t worry men that tried before were dead
Twenty men had tried to take him twenty men had made a slip
Twenty one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

The morning passed so quickly it was time for them to meet
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Folks were watching from the windows every-body held their breath
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
About to meet his death

There was forty 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

It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered round
There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground
Oh he might have went 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

Big iron Big iron

When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

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