Strawberry Roan

Cat. #1260 (MFH #874) - As sung by Ollie Gilbert, Mountain View, Arkansas on October 26, 1971

VERSE 1
I was layin' around town just spendin' my time
Out of a job, not earnin' a dime
Up stepped a fello, he said, I suppose
You're a bunk bustin' rider, by th looks of your clothes

VERSE 2
You guessed me just right, I'm a good one they claim
Do you happen to have any bad ones to tame
Said, I have one, that's always good one to buck
Throwin' riders, he's had lots of luck

VERSE 3
He said, that bronco had never been rode
Th one that gets on is sure t' get throwed
I got all settled back, what did he pay
To ride that bronco for a couple of days

VERSE 4
He showed me a ten-spot an' said I'm your man
Th bronc never lived that I cannot fan
The bronco never lived or down to earth
Till he starves to death

VERSE 5
He said, get your saddle, I'll give you a chance
We got in th buckboard an' went to th ranch
We watched till morning an' right after chuck
Went out to see if that outlaw could buck

VERSE 6
Down in th corral, standin' alone
Was th ole outlaw, called Strawberry Roan
He had little pin eyes an' tucked at th tip
An a big H-H branded on his hip

VERSE 7
He was round an' he had big pigeon toes
Little pink ears an' a big Roman nose
He had a neck as long as long jaw
You could tell by his looks that he was a outlaw

VERSE 8
Well, I buckled on my stirrup, I was feelin' fine
I pulled down my hat an' curled up my twine
An' though th webb loosened on him an' I knowed then
Before I rode him, I would earn my ten

VERSE 9
I got th blind on him with light fight an' next came
Th saddle an' I fastened it on tight
Then I got on him, pulled down th blind
I'm settin' in th middle to see him unwind

VERSE 10
He round his ole neck an' I'll say he wound
He seemed to be livin' down there on th ground
He went to th east came down from th west
While I was settin' on him doing by best

VERSE 11
Well, I lost my stirrup, also my hat
I was clawin' th leather as blind as a bat
With a big jump he made an high dive
Sent me a whirling up in th sky

VERSE 12
He turned forty flips an' came down to earth
And set there cussing th day of my birth
I'll bet you all money that no man alive
Can ride ole Strawberry when he makes that high dive

VERSE 13
He was a frog-walkin', he's a big size
He only likes wings to be in th sky
He turned his ole belly up to th sun
He was a buckin', son-of-a-gun