Tex Ritter

The Texas Rangers

Tex Ritter


Come all you Texas Rangers, wherever you may be 
I'll tell you of some trouble that happened unto me 
My name is nothing extra, so that I will not tell 
But here's to all good Rangers, I'm sure I wish you well 

When at the age of sixteen I joined this 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, we'll surely have to fight!' 

I saw the smoke ascending, it seemed to reach the sky 
The first thought then came to me, 'My time has come to die!' 
And when the bugles sounded, our captain gave command 
'To arms, to arms,' he shouted, 'and by your horses stand' 

I saw the Indians coming, I heard their awful yell 
My feelings at the moment, no human tongue can tell 
I saw their glittering lances, their arrows around me flew 
Till all my strength had left me and all my courage too 

We fought for five full hours before the strife was o'er 
The likes of dead and wounded, I've never seen before 
And when the sun had risen, the Indians they had fled 
We loaded up our rifles and counted up our dead 

Now all of us were wounded, our noble captain slain 
And when the sun was shining across the bloody plain 
Six of the noblest Rangers that ever roamed the West 
Were buried by their comrades with arrows in the breasts 

Perhaps you have a mother, likewise a sister too 
Perhaps you have a sweetheart, to weep and mourn for you 
If this be your position, although you'd like to roam 
I'll tell you from experience, you'd better stay at home