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STRAWBERRY ROAN Sung by: Otis Spradling Recorded in Sitka, AR 8/4/61 Click here to listen to the original recording I’m out of a job, not making a dime, When a fellow stepped up and he says, “I suppose You are a bronc rider from the looks of your clothes.” “You guesses me right; I’m a good 'un, I claim. Do you have any wild ones that need to be tamed?” Says, “Yes, I have one; he’s a bad one to buck; In throwing rough riders he’s had lots of luck.” Got so excited, I asked what he’d pay. He says ten bucks to ride that old pony A couple of days. Says, “I’m your man. The bronc never lived Or ever drew breath that I can’t ride ‘Til he starves to death.” “Get in the buckboard. We’ll drive over to the ranch. Get in the buckboard; I’ll give you your chance.” Got up next morning just after the chuck, Went out to see if that old critter could buck. Went down to the horse corral; he was standing alone, That old caballo, that strawberry roan. He had little thin ears, was touched at the tip, With forty-four . . . branded on his left hip. He had a huge neck and a . . . jaw. I could see with my eye he was a regular outlaw. I popped the twine on him; how well I knew then Before I got rode, I’d earn my ten. I put the blinds on him; we sure had a fight. Next come my saddle; I screwed her down tight. Pushed back my hat, rolled up my twine, Says the . . . cowpunchers, “We’ll watch him unwind.” He really unwound; he didn’t spend much time on the ground. He’s about the worst bucker I ever have found. He’s about the worst bucker I’ve seen on the range. He can turn on a nickel and hand you your change. He went up east and come back west, Staying in his middle, I was doing my best. He turned over twice, started back to earth. I lit into cussing the day of his birth. I lost a hat, I lost my stirrups; there goes my hat. Riding this old bronco as blind as a bat. There’s some of them living; they haven’t all died, There’s some of them living that I can't ride. (Whoa, boy, whoa, whoa, whoa.) Also found in Randolph, Vol. II, #202. |
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All Songs Recorded by John Quincy Wolf, Jr., unless otherwise noted The John Quincy Wolf Folklore Collection Lyon College, Batesville, Arkansas Back to the Song Index Back to the Wolf Collection Homepage ©Copyright 2002 Lyon College |