"I Ride an Old Paint" is a classic American cowboy song with origins dating back to 1927. The song was collected and published by Carl Sandburg in his American Songbag after he heard it from western poets Margaret Larkin and Linn Riggs during his travels in the American Southwest. The song has since become a staple of culture, influencing many artists.
Rex Allen was a popular American Western film actor and singer, who recorded his version of "I Ride an Old Paint" in the 1950s. Allen's rendition of the song features his signature deep and resonant voice, accompanied by a simple acoustic guitar melody.
Other notable recordings of the song include versions by Johnny Cash, the Weavers, Linda Ronstadt, and Loudon Wainwright III. The song has also been interpolated into other works, such as Aaron Copland's ballet "Rodeo" and Virgil Thomson's film score for "The Plow that Broke the Plains."
"I Ride an Old Paint" is a classic. Take a listen to Rex Allen's version above and enjoy the timeless sounds of great American cowboy music.
