***CAPO: 1st Fret 
***KEY: Eb/PLAY: D
  D                      G        
1)Old Red was one of the orn'-ry-est yet
      D                   A7          
  I'd seen at the big rode-o
       D                         G        
  He'd bite you and kick you and stomp out your life
  A7                     D         
  Old Red had never been rode.

  D                G         
2)Meaner than sin - wild as the wind
       D                   A7         
  That blew on the Montana plains
  D                      D             
  Old Red was one of the last of his breed
     A7               D          
  Was-n't about to be tamed.

  G            D    
3)From Idaho a young cowboy came
     A7                   D     
  To ride in the big rode- o
                     G        D        
  The young cowboy's name was Billy McLane
      A7                   D         
  And Billy had never been throwed.

  D               G           D           
4)The greatest de-sire filled young Billy's heart
     A7                          D         
  To ride this old outlaw called Red
                  G         D         
  He drew him one day and I heard Billy say
        A7                    D          
  "I'll ride 'im or drop over dead."

  D           G           D               
5)Old Red was wicked down there in the chute
        A7                      D         
  He was kickin' and stompin' a-bout
                G        D           
  Billy climbed into the saddle with ease
       A7                               D          
  Then yelled: "Turn 'im loose - let us out."

  G                         D     
6)Old Red came out with his head on the ground
      A7                            D          
  His back hooves were touchin' his nose
                G          D         
  Tryin' to get rid of the man on his back
          A7                     D          
  But the man went wherever he'd go.

  D           G           D               
7)Billy was rakin' Old Red with his spurs
        A7                      D          
  From his tail - to the tip of his chin
                G        D             
  He was doin' right well - but Billy could tell
       A7                               D       
  This outlaw would never give in.
  D           G           D             
8)Old Red was runnin' straight for the fence
        A7                      D        
  Suddenly stoppin' and then
                G        D             
  He reared on his hind legs and fell on his back
       A7                               D     
  Takin' poor Billy with him.
  G                         D     
9)There was a hush in the crowd and they knew
      A7                            D     
  This would be Billy's last ride
                G          D         
  The saddle horn crushed Billy's chest when they fell
          A7                     D        
  And under Old Red Billy died.
   D               G           D           
10)Old Red lay still - no more would he move
     A7                          D        
   The cowboys that seen it - could tell
                  G         D            
   In tryin' to throw Billy off of his back
        A7                    D          
   Old Red broke his neck when he fell.
    G                         D     
11)Out in the west - is the place where they rest
      A7                            D     
   This cowboy that never was throwed
                G          D         
   And one foot away - resting there 'neath the clay
           A7                     D          
   Is the - outlaw -- that -- never --- was --- rode.