He rode the saddle broncs
And Did very well,
They said he was afraid of the barebacks,
That argument didn't sell.
He continued with the saddle broncs
Until a challenge came.
A bareback champion called him out
To play a different game
He was challenged to ride bareback
For a thousand-dollar prize.
The champion showed the money
Right before the cowboy's eyes.
He had never ridden a bareback
But the money sounded good.
He knew it would be dangerous
But he thought he could.
The champion chose the horse
He looked bad to the bone,
He was a wild,
Mean, and angry red roan.
The young cowboy looked him over
A chill went through his soul.
He had accepted the challenge,
Now he had to be bold.
The champion stood behind him
A smirky smile on his face.
The young cowboy shook his hand
And said, "Name the time and place."
The champion chose the rodeo
Just a few days away,
He wanted to embarrass the youngster
With a dangerous game to play.
The day came for the rodeo,
The trap had been laid,
Of course the young cowboy
Couldn't ride bareback, he was too afraid.
The cowboy's number was called
Over the field phone,
He answered the call without delay
But he never felt so alone.
Two cowboys helped him mount the Bronc,
He was rearing and kicking the chute
The champion stood laughing,
To him, the incident was cute.
The chute gate was opened
The ride started with a bound.
Four seconds seemed like hours,
When he heard the whistle sound.
Did he ride the Bronc or not?
It was hard to tell.
His head went blank,
The second he fell.
He was assisted to the chute
When he heard the announcer yell,
Give the cowboy a big hand,
Eight seconds had passed before he fell.
The young cowboy located the champion,
The champion had nothing to say,
But it didn't please him at all
When he had to pay.
Willie P. 10/04/24
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