I was hangin' 'round town, just spendin' my time Out of a job, not earnin' a dime But a fellow steps up and he says, "I suppose You're a bronc rider 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?" He 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" We hopped in his buckboard 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 right across left hip U-necked and old, with a long, lower jaw I could tell with one look, he's a regular outlaw.
I gets the blinds on 'im and it'is a heck of 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 plumb up to the sun He sure is a sun-fishin', son-of-a-gun.
He's about the worst bucker that 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 then I comes down to earth I starts in a-cussin' the day of his birth I know there are ponies that I cannot ride 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.