Sierra Vista Company

“Big Iron”

By Marty Robbins

 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 amongst them, had a big iron on his hip. 

Big iron on his hip. 

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 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 hip. 

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 twenty-four.

And the notches on his pistol, numbered one and nineteen more. 

One and nineteen more. 

Now 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 their 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, when 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 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. 

Big iron. Big iron. 

When he tried to match the Ranger, with the big iron on his hip.