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Big Iron Lyrics by Michael Martin Murphey

Cowboy Songs III: Rhymes of the Renegades

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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 'em had a big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

It was early in the mornin' when he rode into town
He came ridin' from the south side, slowly lookin' all around
"He's an outlaw, loose and runnin'", came a whisper from each lip
"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 twenty-four
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
One and nineteen more

Now the stranger started talkin', made it plain to folks around
Was an Arizonia ranger, wouldn't be too long in town
He came there to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Said it didn't matter, he was after Texas Red, after Texas Red

Wasn't long before this story was relayed to Texas Red
But the outlaw didn't worry, men that tried before were dead
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip

The mornin' past so quickly, it was time for them to meet
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Folks were watchin' from their windows, every body held their breath
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
About to meet his death

There was forty 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 for 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 gone on livin' 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
Credits
Michael Martin Murphey

Michael Martin Murphey

About “Big Iron” by Michael Martin Murphey

Read the complete lyrics to "Big Iron" by Michael Martin Murphey from the album "Cowboy Songs III: Rhymes of the Renegades". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Country.

"Big Iron" is performed by Michael Martin Murphey. from the album "Cowboy Songs III: Rhymes of the Renegades" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Big Iron", explore more songs by Michael Martin Murphey using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Michael Martin Murphey · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Big Iron" is credited to Michael Martin Murphey. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Big Iron" appears on "Cowboy Songs III: Rhymes of the Renegades".

Visit the Michael Martin Murphey artist page at /artist/michael-martin-murphey for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

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