Ballad of Big

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Big Jim Cooley commanded respect Whatever he wanted, he could get The badge on his waistcoat shone in the sun It ain't no lie that Big Jim was feared by everyone In the saloon one evening, Big took a bet With a rancher whose name I forget He wanted a herd taken over the plain And he called Jim "yellow", he'll never do that again [Chorus] He got mad He threw his badge on the floor and walked out He's gonna give it a try, he left no doubt "Must be mad, he must be mad!" The people wished him well and good luck "Well I don't need it!" he laughed Got on his horse and rode away [Verse 2] Out on the trail, Jim and his crew of five Were trying their best to keep the cattle alive The weather was hard, but so were the men Though I don't think even Big will try this trip again His horses were edgy, sensing trouble ahead But the trouble didn't start till the men were in bed A-whooping and a-hollering and flashing their knives Big and his men were jumped by an all-star Indian tribe [Chorus] He was scared, Big Jim was scared Alive, they called him lucky, but not today 'Cause he died like all good cowboys With his boots on next to his men [Post-Chorus] Big Jim, he still won't lie down For him, the bet is still on Some say he rides there, cursing still Some say they've seen him [Instrumental Outro]