Big Iron
"Big Iron" is a Western ballad song written and performed by Marty Robbins. Originally released as an album track on Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs in September 1959, it was released as a single in February 1960 with the song "Saddle Tramp" as the B-side single. In 2010, members of the Western Writers of America chose it as the 11th-best Western song of all time.
The song tells the story of an Arizona Ranger's duel with a 24-year-old outlaw named Texas Red. Taking place in the "town of Agua Fria", the townspeople predict the death of the ranger. Texas Red, despite having already killed 20 men, is beaten in the duel due to the speed of the ranger, and the titular "big iron" gun.
The song reached number five on the Billboard Country chart and number 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1960. The B-side, "Saddle Tramp" was not included on Gunfighter Ballads, but was later placed on Robbins' 1966 LP The Drifter.
"Big Iron" is featured in the 2010 video game Fallout: New Vegas on the in-game radio station. The success of the game helped spur a revival of interest in Robbins' music in the 21st century. In the decade following Fallout: New Vegas's release, "Big Iron" became an Internet meme, gaining popularity through remixes and parodies. The song received renewed praise when it was featured in "The Innovator," the second season premiere of the Fallout television series.
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