The Bronc Rider ( Steve Dickson)

The Bronc Rider

« Steve Dickson »

He was sittin’ at the Palace Bar there on Whiskey Row

 Done takin’ on his part here in the oldest rodeo

 Busted up and sore and tired, thoughts stirring in his hard head

 Thinkin’ of them jumps he took that make him now want a bed

The pickup men surely saved his ass once or twice at least

 That last big painted stallion was a strong and mean ol’ beast

 He rode ever’ hoss they gave him, and man it was a chore

 Gettin’ hard to jump back up and then make eight seconds more

His legs were bowed from many days lived out there on the range

 When too much time was spent indoors it made him feel so strange

 Some rough stock that he rode today near ‘bout just done him in

 But he sure cowboyed up my friend and then he took the win

As he’s nursin’ a cold bottle and ponderin’ the past

 Some tourist folks come walkin’ in and stop and stand aghast

 At the sight of this here fella all dusty and threadbare

 Wearin’ chaps and faded jeans with straw and dirt in his hair

One ol’ gal she sauntered on up and said “excuse me sir

 It looks like you were in a wreck” he slowly turned to her

 “Now Ma’am I beg your pardon if I look so rough to you

 But you’re likely not to understand what it is I do

I ride broncos for a livin’ and they don’t want me there

 They run and jump and try their best to toss me in the air

 Some are unsuccessful but most others have their own way

 I’ll end up down there on my butt in dirt and crap and hay

My back is sore and my durn neck is mendin’ from last week

 I landed on my noggin’ and for a while could not speak

 I’ve busted nearly all the bones that docs have ever named

 Been throwed from wolves that surely will forever be untamed

“Why ride those mean wild horses if it makes you hurt so bad?”

 “Lady all I’m knowin’ is in the saddle I am glad

 Throughout the week I work the herds a roamin’ far and wide

 When Friday comes I head on out to take a rougher ride

I know it may seem loco and just a little funny

 To earn so many broken bones for so little money”

 But you know I’d do it though if it didn’t pay a lick

 Cuz ridin’ on them mean wild horses is what makes me tick

We do our jobs together and put on a darned good show

 Both knowin’ we will work so hard a goin’ toe to toe

 Travelin’ the circuit is now the only life I know

 When my wallet’s near ‘bout empty, I’m off to rodeo

So please pardon my appearance and dusty presence here

 But this ‘ol town made history on the wild west frontier

 Where all the roughest cowboys travel far to show their stuff

 At the world’s oldest rodeo and competition’s tough

Now go on out and see the sights in this big western land

 Where sky is blue and folks are few and sunsets are so grand

 Take time to learn the history not so long in the past

 If you spend time with ranchin’ folks, you’ll understand at last