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.

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.

## 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

#### 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

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agua\_Fria
2. ↑ https://truewestmagazine.com/article/big-iron-on-his-hip/