Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Capo
None
Chords
Am · C · G · Dm
Big Iron Chords – Guitar
Marty Robbins’ classic cowboy ballad about a legendary gunfight. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.
Western Ballad (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Play with a steady, marching rhythm. This is a narrative ballad — the strum should be consistent and support the storytelling.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
Am Dm
To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Am E
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say
Am Dm
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
Am E Am
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 2
Am Dm
It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
Am E
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin’ all around
Am Dm
He’s an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lip
Am E Am
And he’s here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 3
Am Dm
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Am E
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
Am Dm
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of twenty-four
Am E Am
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
E Am
One and nineteen more
Verse 4
Am Dm
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around
Am E
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn’t be too long in town
Am Dm
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Am E Am
And he said it didn’t matter, he was after Texas Red
E Am
After Texas Red
Verse 5
Am Dm
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
Am E
But the outlaw didn’t worry, men that tried before were dead
Am Dm
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Am E Am
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 6
Am Dm
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
Am E
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Am Dm
Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath
Am E Am
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
E Am
About to meet his death
Verse 7
Am Dm
There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
Am E
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Am Dm
Texas Red had not cleared leather ‘fore a bullet fairly ripped
Am E Am
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Outro
Am Dm
Big iron, big iron
Am E Am
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Practice tip: Just three chords: Am, Dm, and E. The song has a marching, hypnotic rhythm. Keep it steady and even — the repetitive pattern is what makes it so compelling.
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-C-E-A
Chords
Am · C · G · Dm
Big Iron Chords – Ukulele
Marty Robbins’ classic cowboy ballad about a legendary gunfight. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.
Western Ballad (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Play with a steady, marching rhythm. This is a narrative ballad — the strum should be consistent and support the storytelling.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
Am Dm
To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Am E
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say
Am Dm
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
Am E Am
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 2
Am Dm
It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
Am E
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin’ all around
Am Dm
He’s an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lip
Am E Am
And he’s here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 3
Am Dm
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Am E
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
Am Dm
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of twenty-four
Am E Am
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
E Am
One and nineteen more
Verse 4
Am Dm
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around
Am E
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn’t be too long in town
Am Dm
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Am E Am
And he said it didn’t matter, he was after Texas Red
E Am
After Texas Red
Verse 5
Am Dm
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
Am E
But the outlaw didn’t worry, men that tried before were dead
Am Dm
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Am E Am
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 6
Am Dm
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
Am E
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Am Dm
Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath
Am E Am
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
E Am
About to meet his death
Verse 7
Am Dm
There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
Am E
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Am Dm
Texas Red had not cleared leather ‘fore a bullet fairly ripped
Am E Am
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Outro
Am Dm
Big iron, big iron
Am E Am
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Practice tip: Just three chords: Am, Dm, and E. The song has a marching, hypnotic rhythm. Keep it steady and even — the repetitive pattern is what makes it so compelling.
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Left Hand
Root notes
Chords
Am · C · G · Dm
Big Iron Chords – Piano
Marty Robbins’ classic cowboy ballad about a legendary gunfight. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.
Western Ballad (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Play with a steady, marching rhythm. This is a narrative ballad — the strum should be consistent and support the storytelling.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
Am Dm
To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Am E
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say
Am Dm
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
Am E Am
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 2
Am Dm
It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
Am E
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin’ all around
Am Dm
He’s an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lip
Am E Am
And he’s here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 3
Am Dm
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Am E
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
Am Dm
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of twenty-four
Am E Am
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
E Am
One and nineteen more
Verse 4
Am Dm
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around
Am E
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn’t be too long in town
Am Dm
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Am E Am
And he said it didn’t matter, he was after Texas Red
E Am
After Texas Red
Verse 5
Am Dm
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
Am E
But the outlaw didn’t worry, men that tried before were dead
Am Dm
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Am E Am
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 6
Am Dm
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
Am E
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Am Dm
Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath
Am E Am
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
E Am
About to meet his death
Verse 7
Am Dm
There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
Am E
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Am Dm
Texas Red had not cleared leather ‘fore a bullet fairly ripped
Am E Am
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Outro
Am Dm
Big iron, big iron
Am E Am
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Practice tip: Just three chords: Am, Dm, and E. The song has a marching, hypnotic rhythm. Keep it steady and even — the repetitive pattern is what makes it so compelling.
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
gDGBD (Open G)
Chords
Am · C · G · Dm
Big Iron Chords – Banjo
Marty Robbins’ classic cowboy ballad about a legendary gunfight. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.
Western Ballad (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Play with a steady, marching rhythm. This is a narrative ballad — the strum should be consistent and support the storytelling.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
Am Dm
To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Am E
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say
Am Dm
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
Am E Am
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 2
Am Dm
It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
Am E
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin’ all around
Am Dm
He’s an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lip
Am E Am
And he’s here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 3
Am Dm
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Am E
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
Am Dm
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of twenty-four
Am E Am
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
E Am
One and nineteen more
Verse 4
Am Dm
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around
Am E
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn’t be too long in town
Am Dm
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Am E Am
And he said it didn’t matter, he was after Texas Red
E Am
After Texas Red
Verse 5
Am Dm
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
Am E
But the outlaw didn’t worry, men that tried before were dead
Am Dm
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Am E Am
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 6
Am Dm
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
Am E
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Am Dm
Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath
Am E Am
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
E Am
About to meet his death
Verse 7
Am Dm
There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
Am E
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Am Dm
Texas Red had not cleared leather ‘fore a bullet fairly ripped
Am E Am
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Outro
Am Dm
Big iron, big iron
Am E Am
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Practice tip: Just three chords: Am, Dm, and E. The song has a marching, hypnotic rhythm. Keep it steady and even — the repetitive pattern is what makes it so compelling.
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Tuning
G-D-A-E
Chords
Am · C · G · Dm
Big Iron Chords – Mandolin
Marty Robbins’ classic cowboy ballad about a legendary gunfight. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.
Western Ballad (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Play with a steady, marching rhythm. This is a narrative ballad — the strum should be consistent and support the storytelling.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
Am Dm
To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Am E
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say
Am Dm
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
Am E Am
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 2
Am Dm
It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
Am E
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin’ all around
Am Dm
He’s an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lip
Am E Am
And he’s here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 3
Am Dm
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Am E
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
Am Dm
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of twenty-four
Am E Am
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
E Am
One and nineteen more
Verse 4
Am Dm
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around
Am E
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn’t be too long in town
Am Dm
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Am E Am
And he said it didn’t matter, he was after Texas Red
E Am
After Texas Red
Verse 5
Am Dm
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
Am E
But the outlaw didn’t worry, men that tried before were dead
Am Dm
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Am E Am
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 6
Am Dm
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
Am E
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Am Dm
Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath
Am E Am
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
E Am
About to meet his death
Verse 7
Am Dm
There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
Am E
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Am Dm
Texas Red had not cleared leather ‘fore a bullet fairly ripped
Am E Am
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Outro
Am Dm
Big iron, big iron
Am E Am
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Practice tip: Just three chords: Am, Dm, and E. The song has a marching, hypnotic rhythm. Keep it steady and even — the repetitive pattern is what makes it so compelling.
Amtap to play
Ctap to play
Gtap to play
Dmtap to play
Key
A Major
Difficulty
Beginner
Harp Key
C Diatonic
Chords
Am · C · G · Dm
Big Iron Chords – Harmonica
Marty Robbins’ classic cowboy ballad about a legendary gunfight. Beginner difficulty in the key of Am.
Western Ballad (4/4 Time)
↓↓↑↑↓↑
123456
Tip: Play with a steady, marching rhythm. This is a narrative ballad — the strum should be consistent and support the storytelling.
Lyrics & Chords
Full Song
Verse 1
Am Dm
To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day
Am E
Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn’t have too much to say
Am Dm
No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip
Am E Am
For the stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 2
Am Dm
It was early in the morning when he rode into the town
Am E
He came riding from the south side slowly lookin’ all around
Am Dm
He’s an outlaw loose and running, came the whisper from each lip
Am E Am
And he’s here to do some business with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 3
Am Dm
In this town there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red
Am E
Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead
Am Dm
He was vicious and a killer, though a youth of twenty-four
Am E Am
And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more
E Am
One and nineteen more
Verse 4
Am Dm
Now the stranger started talking, made it plain to folks around
Am E
Was an Arizona ranger, wouldn’t be too long in town
Am Dm
He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead
Am E Am
And he said it didn’t matter, he was after Texas Red
E Am
After Texas Red
Verse 5
Am Dm
Wasn’t long before the story was relayed to Texas Red
Am E
But the outlaw didn’t worry, men that tried before were dead
Am Dm
Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip
Am E Am
Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Verse 6
Am Dm
The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet
Am E
It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street
Am Dm
Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath
Am E Am
They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death
E Am
About to meet his death
Verse 7
Am Dm
There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play
Am E
And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today
Am Dm
Texas Red had not cleared leather ‘fore a bullet fairly ripped
Am E Am
And the ranger’s aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Outro
Am Dm
Big iron, big iron
Am E Am
When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip
E Am
Big iron on his hip
Practice tip: Just three chords: Am, Dm, and E. The song has a marching, hypnotic rhythm. Keep it steady and even — the repetitive pattern is what makes it so compelling.