Introduction
“Big Iron” is a classic country song written and carry out by the fabled American musician Marty Robbins, Released in 1959, the song rapidly became one of Robbins’ most iconic hits, earning a delicate place in the annals of country music history.
Marty Robbins, born in 1925, was a fruitful singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for his person voice and narration abilities. “Big Iron” exemplifies Robbins’ talent for put together narrative-driven songs that allure audiences.
The song inform the story of a Texas Ranger named “Texas Red” and a equivocal gunslinger known as the “Arizona Ranger.” Set against the setting of the Old West, the lyrics paint a animated picture of a high-stakes showdown between these two mythic figures.
With its Strongest matches in the mind music and expressive lyrics, “Big Iron” became an instant classic, resonating with fans of country music and Western folklore alike. Robbins’ graceful vocals and adroit storytelling bear aloft the song, transporting listeners to a past era of cowboys, outlaws, and border justice.
Over the years, “Big Iron” has been carpeted by numerous artists and featured in various films, television shows, and video games, further gluing its status as a timeless great work in the country music genre. Marty Robbins’ continuing legacy lives on through this enduring classic, secure that “Big Iron” remains a much loved favourite for generations to come.
Lyrics
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 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 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
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
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
Big iron on his hip
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
It was 20 past 11 when they walked out in the street
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
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