Old Riders In The Grandstand
Slim Dusty Lyrics


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I'm seated in the grandstand at a big-time rodeo
With my walking stick beside me as I watch the scene below
There are youngon's ridin' outlaws as I did when young and free
And I wonder are there many old ex-riders here like me
The horses they are ridin' couldn't buck to save their hide
Oh I'd like to see these youngon's on the ones I used to ride
I've used the likes of spinifex for a night horse on the run
And brahma bulls like Wadgerra, we rode them just for fun
The saddles they are using are designed to hold you in
And the halter shanks are silky so as not to hurt your skin
We rode in flattened? Poleans? In the days of long ago
And could have rolled a smoke aboard the likes of Curio
The steers they use for doggin' are no bigger than a calf
And the time they take to throw them make us old timers laugh
We used to scrub big Mickey's twice the size in cattle yards
Oh but that was many years ago way back when times were hard
These youngon's dress so lairy in their fancy cowboy suits
We used to ride in moleskins and a pair of Bluecha boots




But all our glory's vanished, we're forgotten men, it seems
Old riders in the grandstand alone with all our dreams

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Slim Dusty's song Old Riders In The Grandstand are a reflection on the past and the present. The singer is seated in the grandstand at a big-time rodeo, watching the young riders below. He has his walking stick beside him, a symbol of his age and experience. He sees the young riders riding outlaws just as he did when he was young and free. However, he wonders if there are many old ex-riders like him in the grandstand.


He is critical of the modern rodeo scene, feeling that the horses they are riding are nothing compared to the ones he used to ride. He remembers using spinifex for a night horse on the run and brahma bulls like Wadgerra, just for fun. He contrasts the modern saddles, which are designed to hold you in, with the old flattened poleans they used to use. The halter shanks are silky and gentle now, unlike the old harsh ones they used to use. He reminisces about the old days when they could have rolled a smoke aboard the likes of Curio.


The singer laments that all their glory has vanished and they are forgotten men, left alone in the grandstand with all their dreams. The song captures a sense of nostalgia for the old ways and a suspicion that the modern world has lost touch with the traditions of the past.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm seated in the grandstand at a big-time rodeo
I am watching a rodeo from the stands


With my walking stick beside me as I watch the scene below
I have my cane with me as I observe the rodeo


There are youngon's ridin' outlaws as I did when young and free
There are young riders on wild horses, just like I used to do when I was young and carefree


And I wonder are there many old ex-riders here like me
I wonder if there are many other retired cowboys like me in the crowd


The horses they are ridin' couldn't buck to save their hide
The horses they are riding are not very wild and couldn't throw off their riders if they tried


Oh I'd like to see these youngon's on the ones I used to ride
I would like to see these young riders try to stay on the wild horses I used to ride


I've used the likes of spinifex for a night horse on the run
I have ridden horses like Spinifex during night runs


And brahma bulls like Wadgerra, we rode them just for fun
We used to ride Brahma bulls like Wadgerra just for fun


The saddles they are using are designed to hold you in
The saddles they use nowadays are made to keep you secure on the horse


And the halter shanks are silky so as not to hurt your skin
The ropes they use to steer the horses now are soft and won't hurt your skin


We rode in flattened? Poleans? In the days of long ago
We used to ride in flat saddle pads called Poleans long ago


And could have rolled a smoke aboard the likes of Curio
We used to be able to roll a cigarette while riding a wild horse like Curio


The steers they use for doggin' are no bigger than a calf
The livestock they use for steer wrestling are small and no bigger than a calf


And the time they take to throw them make us old timers laugh
We find it amusing that the young riders take so long to wrestle the steers down


We used to scrub big Mickey's twice the size in cattle yards
We used to have to clean larger steers like Big Mickey in cattle yards


Oh but that was many years ago way back when times were hard
But that was a long time ago, during tougher times


These youngon's dress so lairy in their fancy cowboy suits
The young riders wear flashy cowboy outfits


We used to ride in moleskins and a pair of Bluecha boots
We used to wear simple moleskin pants and Bluecha boots while riding


But all our glory's vanished, we're forgotten men, it seems
It seems like our glory days are gone and we have been forgotten


Old riders in the grandstand alone with all our dreams
Retired cowboys sitting in the stands, reminiscing about the past




Contributed by Alyssa N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@henningolesen2506

great song !!

@norbeere100

thanks for youré comment : Also spare ,The big Roadliner . if you like ?go to see it please . greetings and stay well !

@henningolesen2506

@@norbeere100 thank you !! did you mean Slim Dusty with "Roadliner" ?

@henningolesen2506

@@norbeere100 I found it - thanks

@henningolesen2506

@@norbeere100 it was a great song

@henningolesen2506

@@norbeere100 I saw it -and liked it

@kevinperks4458

Written by the master Stan Coster.

@norbeere100

Danke für deinen Kommentar. It is from an old vinyl. Hope you enjoy. Greetings from greece

@norbeere100

Also a spare one. Go to See my big roadliner please