About the song
Big Iron” by Marty Robbins is a classic Western ballad, a song that encapsulates the spirit of the American frontier with its tales of bravery, gunfights, and the stark realities of life in the Old West. Released in 1959 as part of the “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs” album, this track has become an iconic representation of the genre, beloved for its storytelling prowess and Robbins’s distinctive vocal delivery.
The song’s narrative, written by Robbins himself, tells the story of an Arizona Ranger who faces off against a notorious outlaw named Texas Red. The tension builds as the two men prepare for their fateful encounter, culminating in a swift and decisive showdown. The lyrics, rich in detail and imagery, transport the listener to the dusty streets of Agua Fria, where the fate of these two men hangs in the balance.
Marty Robbins’s vocal style, characterized by its smooth baritone and dramatic phrasing, imbues the song with a sense of both tension and excitement. He doesn’t just sing the lyrics; he narrates them, bringing the characters to life with his vivid descriptions and compelling delivery. This storytelling prowess is a hallmark of his artistry, and it’s what makes his rendition of “Big Iron” so captivating.
The song’s arrangement, typically sparse and uncluttered, allows Robbins’s vocals and the narrative to take center stage. The gentle acoustic guitar and subtle rhythm section create a sense of suspense, mirroring the tension of the story.
“Big Iron” is more than just a Western song; it’s a cinematic experience, a short story told through music that resonates with listeners of all generations. It’s a testament to the enduring appeal of the Western genre and its ability to capture the imagination with tales of heroism and adventure.
Video
Lyrics
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 hipIt 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 hipIn 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 moreNow 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 RedWasn’t long before the 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 hipThe morning passed so quickly it was time for them to meet
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Folks were watching from the windows every-body held their breath
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
About to meet his deathThere 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 fore a bullet fairly ripped
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hipIt 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 hipBig iron Big iron
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
Big iron on his hip
