American Folk - Texas Rangers

1. Come, all you Texas rangers, wherever you may be,

I’ll tell you of some troubles that happened unto me.

My name is nothing extra, so it I will not tell,

And here’s to all you rangers, I’m sure I wish you well.

2. It was the age of sixteen I joined the jolly band,

We marched from San Antonio down to the Rio Grande.

Our captain he informed us, perhaps he thought it right,

“Before we reach the station, you’ll surely have to fight.”

3. And when the bugle sounded, our captain give command.

“To arms, to arms,” he shouted, “and by your horses stand.”

I saw the smoke ascending, it seemed to reach the sky;

The thought that struck me first was, my time had come to die.

4. The enemy was coming, I heard them give the yell;

My feelings at that moment, no tongue can ever tell.

I heard the pounding hoof beats, the bullets round me flew,

And all my strength it left me, and all my courage too.

5. We fought for many hours before the strife was o’er.

The like of dead and wounded I never saw before.

And when the sun was rising, the enemy had fled,

We loaded up our rifles and counted up our dead.

6. And all of us were wounded, our noble captain slain,

The sun was shining sadly across the bloody plain;

And seventeen brace rangers as ever roamed the West

Were buried by their comrades with bullets in their breast.

7. And now my song is ended; I guess I’ve sung enough;

The life of a ranger I’m sure is very tough.

And here’s to all you ladies, I’m sure I wish you well.

I’m bound to go a-ranging; so, ladies, fare you well.