Bull riding refers to rodeo sports that involve a rider getting on a large bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal attempts to buck off the rider.
In the American tradition the rider must stay atop the bucking bull for eight full seconds to count as a qualified ride. The rider tightly fastens one hand to the bull with a long braided rope. It is a risky sport and has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports."
Outside of the USA, bull riding traditions with varying rules and histories also exist in Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, New Zealand and Australia, with the majority of them following similar rules, especially with the Professional Bull Riders organization.
The taming of bulls has ancient roots in contests dating as far back as Minoan culture. Bull riding itself has its direct roots in Mexican contests of equestrian and ranching skills now collectively known as charreada. During the 16th century, a hacienda contest called jaripeo developed. Originally considered a variant of bull fighting, in which riders literally rode a bull to death, the competition evolved into a form where the bull was simply ridden until it stopped bucking. By the mid-19th century, charreada competition was popular on Texas and California cattle ranches where Anglo and Hispanic ranch hands often worked together.
Well first you gotta wanna get off bad enough to wanna get on him in the first place
And you better trust in your lady luck
Pray to God that she don't give up on you right now
Live fast die young bull rider
One hand hold is all you got it's you and the bull against the clock and a cross crowd
And once upon a spinnin' ton nothin' else you've ever done can pull this way
You're just outside the buckin' shoot
Lose a spur you lose your seat and you lose yourself
By now he's buckin' mean and dirty
Slingin' mud and cowboy boots and kickin' clowns
No fools no fun bull rider
You gotta feel the way he's movin' you gotta watch his head
And brace yourself for anything that a friend of you might dead
You know the art of hangin' loose hangin' just as tight
Well there's something like a hurricane who's dancin' with the kite
Live fast die young bull rider
Well the rodeo is more than rough
It's a fact of life it's tough to cut his fever ass
It's drinkin' beer and pullin' trailers
Tighten may on barreled razors and horse's buck
No fools no fun bull rider