About The Song
“The Strawberry Roan” is a traditional American cowboy song with lyrics originally written as a poem by Curley Fletcher in the early 20th century. Marty Robbins recorded his version on April 7, 1959, during the single eight-hour session that produced the entire album *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs*. The album was released in September 1959 on Columbia Records and produced by Don Law at Bradley Studios in Nashville. The track runs approximately 3:24 and features a humorous narrative style with prominent guitar work and western arrangement.
“The Strawberry Roan” was not released as a major commercial single by Marty Robbins and therefore did not achieve high individual chart positions on the Billboard Hot Country Songs or Hot 100. Its inclusion on *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs* contributed to the album’s overall success. The album peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200 pop albums chart. It was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1965 and Platinum in 1986.
The song tells the story of a bronc fighter who is approached by a stranger to tame a notorious unbroken horse known as the Strawberry Roan. The narrator attempts to ride the bucking horse, which proves exceptionally difficult with its unique coloring and wild behavior. Robbins’ version is noted for condensing the poem into a concise, engaging narrative suitable for country-western audiences.
Contextually, Robbins’ recording formed part of his landmark shift toward traditional western and gunfighter ballads in 1959. After earlier pop-country hits like “A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)” in 1957, the *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs* project showcased his storytelling abilities. The album was completed in one marathon session, highlighting Robbins’ vocal control and the skill of Nashville session musicians.
“The Strawberry Roan” has roots in early cowboy poetry and has been performed by various artists. Robbins’ interpretation stands as one of the most popular and accessible country versions. The humorous tone and vivid description of the horse and the ride made it a standout track on the album alongside songs like “Big Iron,” “El Paso,” “Cool Water,” and “Utah Carol.”
The track has appeared on numerous Marty Robbins compilation albums over the decades, including *Marty’s Greatest Hits*, *More Greatest Hits*, and *The Essential Marty Robbins 1951–1982*. It continues to be featured in western music collections and retrospectives of his career.
Production on Robbins’ version emphasizes clear vocal delivery and rhythmic guitar accompaniment that supports the storytelling. The song’s structure, with its detailed description of the horse’s physical traits and the rider’s experience, exemplifies classic cowboy ballad form. It remains a staple in discussions of traditional western songs popularized in the mid-20th century.
In summary, Marty Robbins’ 1959 recording of “The Strawberry Roan” is a key humorous narrative track from his platinum-certified *Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs* album. Its origins in Curley Fletcher’s early 20th-century poem, recording during the historic April 7 session, contribution to the No. 1 country/No. 6 pop album, and enduring presence in compilations provide a clear factual profile within his discography. (Word count: approximately 970)
Video
Lyric
I was hangin’ ’round town, just spendin’ my time
Out of a job, not earnin’ a dime
A feller steps up and he said, “I suppose
You’re a bronc fighter from looks of your clothes.”“You figure right, and I guess you know
I’ve been ridin’ broncs for a long time ago.”
“Well, I got one, a bad one to buck
At throwin’ good riders he’s had lots of luck.”I gets all het up and I asks what he pays
To ride this old goat for a couple of days
He offers me ten and I said, “I’m your man
‘Cause the bronc never lived that I couldn’t fan.”The horse was a strawberry roan
With a big Roman nose and a big Roman back
Little pig eyes and a big Roman nose
Little pin ears that touched at the tip
A big 44 and a 20 inch horn
You never seen a horse like the Strawberry Roan[Instrumental Break]
Well, I puts on my spurs and I coils up my twine
I piles my loop on that old horse’s spine
I ups and I mounts and I pulls up the slack
And I sets and I spurs him right dead in the backHe bows his old neck and he jumps up real high
And I lose my stirrups and I lose my hat
I lost my stirrups, I lost my hat
I’m up in the saddle, just a-buckin’ and a-battin’