The Strawberry Roan
Riding the Wild: Conquering the Strawberry Roan Challenge
Lyrics
I was hangin' 'round town, just spendin' my time
I was loitering in town, passing my time
Out of a job, not earnin' a dime
Unemployed, not making any money
A feller steps up and he said, "I suppose
A person approaches and assumes I'm a bronc fighter
You're a bronc fighter from looks of your clothes"
Observing my attire to deduce my profession
"you figures me right, I'm a good one" I claim
I confirm, expressing confidence in my skills
"do you happen to have any bad ones to tame?"
I inquire if there are challenging horses to tame
Said "he's got one, a bad one to buck
The person mentions having a difficult horse to ride
At throwin' good riders, he's had lots of luck"
Successful at throwing off experienced riders
I gets all het up and I ask what he pays
I express interest and ask about the payment
To ride this old nag for a couple of days
Asking the fee to ride the challenging horse
He offered me ten; I said, "I'm your man
Offered ten dollars, readily agree to the challenge
A bronc never lived that I couldn't span"
Confident that no horse can defeat me
He said: "get your saddle, I'll give you a chance"
Given a chance, prepare to ride the horse
In his buckboard we hopped and he drives to the ranch
Travel to the ranch with the person
I stayed 'til mornin' and right after chuck
Stay overnight, ready for the challenge
I stepped out to see if this outlaw can buck
Check if the challenging horse can buck
Down in the horse corral standin' alone
In the horse corral, a lone old caballo (horse)
Is an old caballo, a strawberry roan
Describing the horse as a strawberry roan
His legs are all spavined, he's got pigeon toes
Listing physical imperfections of the horse
Little pig eyes and a big roman nose
Detailing the horse's appearance
Little pin ears that touched at the tip
Describing the horse's ears
A big 44 brand was on his left hip
Brand on the horse's hip and its general condition
U-necked and old, with a long, lower jaw
Further physical description of the horse
I could see with one eye, he's a regular outlaw
Noting that the horse is a notorious outlaw
I gets the blinds on 'im and it sure is a fright
Blinding the horse, preparing for the ride
Next comes the saddle and I screws it down tight
Fitting the saddle tightly
Then I steps on 'im and I raises the blinds
Mounting the horse, anticipating its reaction
Get outta the way boys, he's gonna unwind
Warning others to clear the area
He sure is a frog-walker, he heaves a big sigh
Describing the horse's vigorous movements
He only lacks wings, for to be on the fly
Comparing the horse to a frog-walker, exaggerating its actions
He turns his old belly right up to the sun
Describing the horse exposing its belly
He sure is a sun-fishin', son-of-a-gun
Characterizing the horse as a sun-fishin' son-of-a-gun
He's about the worst bucker I've seen on the range
Labeling the horse as one of the worst buckers
He'll turn on a nickel and give you some change
Describing the horse's agility and unpredictability
He hits on all fours and goes up on high
Detailing the horse's acrobatic movements
Leaves me a spinnin' up there in the sky
Thrown off the horse and left spinning in the air
I turns over twice and I comes back to earth
Experiencing a fall and expressing frustration
I lights in a cussin' the day of his birth
Landing and cursing the horse's existence
I know there are ponies that I cannot ride
Acknowledging there are horses I cannot ride
There's some of them left, they haven't all died
Mentioning some horses still undefeated
I'll bet all my money, the man ain't alive
Confident that no one can stay on the strawberry roan
That'll stay with old strawberry
Challenging anyone to prove otherwise
When he makes his high dive
Asserting the horse's remarkable abilities
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