Big Iron is a classic American folk song written by Marty Robbins in 1959. It tells the story of a deadly gunfight between a Texas Ranger and an outlaw. The song has been covered by many popular artists including Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, and Johnny Horton. The lyrics of Big Iron have become iconic in the country music genre and are still remembered and sung by many today. In this article, we’ll explore the full lyrics of Big Iron and discuss its timeless appeal.
Full Lyrics of Big Iron Song
The song starts off with the narrator describing the Texas Ranger, his “big iron on his hip”, and his determination to bring the outlaw to justice:
“It was out in El Paso one day/At the table in the cafe/A stranger came in, no one knew his name/And he spoke not a word as he looked around/The only thing that he had was a big iron on his hip”.
The chorus then begins, with the narrator describing the gunfight between the Texas Ranger and the outlaw:
“Big Iron on his hip/Big Iron said ‘tweet tweet’/Big Iron said ‘I’m gonna let you down’/Big Iron said ‘tweet tweet’/Big Iron said ‘I’m gonna let you down'”.
The second verse follows, with the narrator describing the Texas Ranger’s pursuit of the outlaw:
“He rode down to the station/And he didn’t leave a trace/He just vanished like a cloud of smoke/He was gone without a trace/But the people knew his name and they feared his big iron gun”.
The chorus is repeated, followed by a third verse which describes the Texas Ranger’s victory over the outlaw:
“He rode back to the station/And he hung the outlaw high/He just smiled as the people all cheered/As the outlaw met his fate/He said ‘no one messes with the big iron on my hip'”.
The chorus is repeated once more, and the song ends with the narrator declaring that the Texas Ranger was victorious:
“Big Iron on his hip/Big Iron said ‘tweet tweet’/Big Iron said ‘I’m gonna let you down’/Big Iron said ‘tweet tweet’/Big Iron said ‘I’m gonna let you down’/And the people all cheered when the Texas Ranger won”.
Big Iron is an iconic American folk song that has been covered by many popular artists over the years. Its timeless lyrics have become a staple of the country music genre and are still remembered and sung by many today. The song tells the story of a deadly gunfight between a Texas Ranger and an outlaw, and the lyrics capture the emotion and excitement of the duel. As a result, the song has become a classic and will likely remain a beloved classic for years to come.