Strawberry Roan

[Blue Willy]

Probably the greatest horse song ever written and one of the top five cowboy songs of all time. I had fun putting together this three guitar arrangement.

Strawberry Roan

Most artists have edited the lyrics. Here are the complete lyrics, written by Curley Fletcher, 1915.

I'm a-layin' around just spendin' my time,
Out of a job and ain't holdin' a dime,
When a fellow steps up and says, "I suppose
That you're a bronc fighter by the looks of your clothes."
"You figures me right, I'm a good one," I claim,
"Do you happen to have any bad ones to tame?"
He says he's got one, a bad one to buck,
And for throwin' good riders, he's had lots of luck.

He says that this pony has never been rode,
That the boys that gets on him is bound to get throwed;
Well I gets all excited and asks what he pays
To ride that old pony for a couple of days.
He offered a ten-spot, I says "I'm your man,
'Cause the bronc never lived that I couldn't fan;
The horse never lived, he never drew breath,
That I couldn't ride 'til he starved plumb to death.

"I don't like to brag but I got this to say,
That I ain't been piled in many a day."
Says he, "Get your saddle, I'll give you a chance."
So I gets in his buckboard and drifts to his ranch.
I stays until mornin' and right after chuck,
I steps out to see if this outlaw can buck.
Down in the horse corral standin' alone
Was this caballo, a strawberry roan.

His legs is all spavined, he's got pigeon toes,
Little pig eyes and a big Roman nose,
Little pin ears that touch at the tip
And a double square iron stamped on his hip.
Ewe-necked and old with a long lower jaw,
I can see with one eye, he's a reg'lar outlaw.
I puts on my spurs - I'm sure feelin' fine -
Turns up my hat and picks up my twine.

I throws that loop on him and well I know then,
That before he gets rode, I'll sure earn that ten,
I get my blinds on him and it sure was a fight,
Next come my saddle, I screws it down tight.
Then I piles on him and raises the blind,
I'm right in his middle to see him unwind.
Well, he bows his old neck and I guess he unwound,
For he seems to quit livin' down on the ground.

He goes up toward the east and comes down toward the west;
To stay in his middle, I'm doin' my best.
He sure is frog-walkin', he heaves a big sigh.
He only lacks wings for to be on the fly.
He turns his old belly right up towards the sun,
He sure is a sun-fishin' son of a gun.
He is the worst bucker I've seen on the range;
He can turn on a nickel and give you some change.

While he's a-buckin', he squeals like a shoat,
I tell you, that pony has sure got my goat.
I claim that, no foolin', that bronc could sure step
But I'm still in my saddle, a-buildin' a rep.
He hits on all fours and suns up his side,
I don't see how he keeps from sheddin' his hide.
I loses my stirrups and also my hat,
I'm grabbin' the leather and blind as a bat.

With a phenomenal jump, he goes up on high,
And I'm settin' on nothin', way up in the sky,
And then I turns over and comes back to earth
And lights into cussin' the day of his birth.
I knows the horses I ain't able to ride
Is some of them livin' - they haven't all died,
But I bets all my money there ain't no man alive,
That can stay with that bronc when he makes that high dive!

[islander53]

Love it! And love the fact you're staying true to the original lyrics. It's important to preserve these things.

An American original preserving American originals.

[Fambroski]

Absolutely real. GREAT!

[Blue Willy]

Originally Posted by islander5360

Love it! And love the fact you're staying true to the original lyrics. It's important to preserve these things.

And American original preserving American originals.

In fairness to the edited versions, most were put out back in the day on 10" 78rpm singles and the full version won't fit the format which is limited to around 3 minutes though a full version might be fitted on a 12" at a fast tempo. Now with digital, we've got no limits.

Thanks for the kind comments guys.

This old Americana stuff is becoming sort of esoteric except to the fast shrinking cowboy community. Once these old boys are gone you will see beef prices in the U. S. rise to the point where beef will be affordable only the rich.

[Frank Roberts]

Dang, Mike! Heck, I can't hardly remember all the words to the seven verses of Tangled Up In Blue!

I never knew Strawberry Roan had all those words. Appreciate you setting the record straight on that.

Compliments also on the arrangement of the three guitars and the great video.

Thank for sharing this with us.

Frank

[Bob1131]

What a great old song, Mike! Thanks for sharing it here.