Big Iron

"Big Iron" is a ballad written by American country and western singer Marty Robbins and first released on his 1959 album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. It gained a boost in popularity and achieved meme status after its inclusion on the soundtrack of the 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas.
==Factoids==
There is a historic village in New Mexico and a ghost town in California called Agua Fria, but no known community by that name in Arizona; however, the Agua Fria river west of Phoenix lends its name to the Agua Fria National Monument, a portion of Arizona SR 101, and a school district in the western Phoenix suburbs.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agua_Fria
The events in the song are fictional, but possibly inspired by tall tales told to Robbins by his grandfather, "Texas Bob" Heckle, a figure of local legend who claimed, among other things, to have served as a Texas Ranger.https://truewestmagazine.com/article/big-iron-on-his-hip/
==Lyrics==
These lyrics are based on the version performed by the Longest Johns on their studio cover.
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 
Well 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
==Recordings==
====YouTube Videos====
*Studio Cover
====Full Band Streams====
*Little Stream of Horrors (Oct 25, 2023)
====Chill Streams====
*Welcome to the Chilldome! With Andy - 15/03/2020
*Come on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 26/03/2020
*Chillbury Town: Population You! With Andy & JD - 30/03/2020
*Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 04/04/2020
*Roll on down to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 10/04/2020
*Roll on UP to Chillbury Town! With Andy - 13/04/2020
*It's a glorious morning in Chillbury Town! With Andy - 17/04/2020
*Won't you come down to Chillbury Town - 24/04/2020
*More chilled than a sack of penguins with Andy & JD - 27/04/2020
*Welcome to Chillville! Population: Andy - 01/05/2020 
*It's a beautiful morning in Chillbury Town - 08/05/2020
*Welcome to Chillville. Drive safe! Playing mostly folk music... - 15/05/2020
*Friday Morning Super Folk Music Time! - 29/05/2020
*Enter the Chilldome! Playing mostly folk music... - 05/06/2020
*Misty morning song time with Andy. - 12/06/2020
*Friday morning super folk music time with Andy! - 19/06/2020
*Can you survive the chilldome? Playing mostly folk music... - 26/06/2020
*Are you a chill enough dude to defeat the Chilldome? - 10/07/2020
*Look out! It's a music! Playing mostly folk... - 21/08/2020
*Hold on to your hats! I'm attempting a music! - 28/08/2020
*Shut the front door! It's a music! - 18/09/2020
*Music? Music! - 25/09/2020
*Music? Splendid! - 09/10/2020
*Super Friday Morning Folk Music Time! - 23/10/2020
*Super Friday Folk Music Time! - 18/12/2020
*Bonus music time! GO! - 23/12/2020
*Just one tired man and a banjo... - 17/01/2021
*We'll all drink herbal tea in Chillbury Town - 14/04/2022
Category:Andy Songs
Category:Songs