To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine dayHardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to sayNo one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slipFor the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hipBig iron on his hip
It was early in the morning when he rode into the townHe came riding from the south side slowly lookin' all aroundHe's an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lipAnd he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hipBig iron on his hip
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas RedMany men had tried to take him and that many men were deadHe was vicious and a killer though a youth of 24And the notches on his pistol numbered one and 19 moreOne and 19 more
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks aroundWas an Arizona ranger, wouldn't be too long in townHe came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe deadAnd he said it didn't matter he was after Texas RedAfter Texas Red
Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas RedBut the outlaw didn't worry men that tried before were dead20 men had tried to take him, 20 men had made a slip21 would be the ranger with the big iron on his hipBig iron on his hip
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meetIt was 20 past 11 when they walked out in the streetFolks were watching from the windows, everybody held their breathThey knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his deathAbout to meet his death
There was 40 feet between them when they stopped to make their playAnd the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about todayTexas Red had not cleared leather 'fore a bullet fairly rippedAnd the ranger's aim was deadly with the big iron on his hipBig iron on his hip
It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered roundThere before them lay the body of the outlaw on the groundOh, he might have went on living but he made one fatal slipWhen he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hipBig iron on his hipBig iron, big ironWhen he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hipBig iron on his hip