Collected & Transcribed
by Mary Celestia Parler
Reel 143
Item 3
The Texas Rangers
Come all you Texas Rangers, wherever you may be,
I'll tell you of some trouble that happened unto me.
My name is nothing extry, so that I will not tell,
But come all you jolly Rangers, I'm sure I wish you well.
'Twas at the age of eighteen I joined the jolly band,
We marched from Houston, Texas, down to the Rio Grande,
We saw the smoke arising, it seemed to reach the sky,
The very first thought that struck me, now is my time to die.
I thought of my old mother, who in tears to me did say,
"To you they all strangers; with me you'd better stay."
I'd thought her old and childish, and that she did not know
My heart was with the Rangers, and I was determined to go.
We saw the Indians coming, we heard them raise their yell;
My feelings at that moment no human tongue could tell.
We saw the glittering rifles, the bullets around us hailed;
My heart did sink within me, my courage almost failed.
And as the bugle sounded, our captain gave command,
"To arms, to arms," he shouted, "and by your horses stand."
We fought for nine long hours before the strife was o'er,
The like of dead and wounded I never saw before.
Nine of the noblest Rangers that ever roved the West,
Were buried by their comrades with bullets in their breast.