234
The Texas Ranger
For the frequency of this song both in print and in tradition,
see BSM 336, and add to the references there given Vermont
(NGMS 226-8), North Carolina (SFLQ. v 141-2), Ohio (BSO
291-3), Indiana (BSI 316-7), Illinois (JAFL lvii 72-3), Missouri
and Arkansas (Randolph OFS 11 169), Virginia (Davis FSV 290,
listed), Florida (FSF 44-6), and Michigan (BSSM 239-40) ; it is
also in Barry's list of songs found in the North Atlantic States.
It will not be necessary to give in extenso all the texts found in
our collection. It should be noticed that Mrs. Sutton's text turns
the story into a Civil War ballad, whereas properly the Rangers
fought not Yankees but Indians — and, later, bandits of divers sorts.
A
'Texas Rangers.' Communicated in 1937 by W. Amos Abrams of Boone,
Watauga county. The normal version.
1 Come all you Texas Rangers, wherever you may be,
A story I will tell you that happened to me.
My name is nothing extra. The truth to you I'll tell,
I am a roving Ranger, and I'm sure I wish you well.
'Twas at the age of sixteen I joined this jolly band.
We marched from San Antonio unto the Rio Grande.
Our captain he informed us, perhaps he thought it right,
'Before you reach the station, boys,' said he, 'you'll have
to fight!'
2 I saw the Injuns coming, I heard them give the yell;
My feelings for one moment no tongue can ever tell.
I saw their glittering lances like arrows round my head ;
My heart it sank within me, my courage almost fled.
We fought them nine hours before the strife was o'er.
The likes of the dead and wounded I never saw before.
Six as noble Rangers as ever trod the West
Lay buried by their comrades ; sweet peace be to their rest.
3 I thought of my dear old mother, who in tears to me did
say.
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 545
'Perhaps they are all strangers ; with me you'd better stay.'
But I thought her old and childish and that she did not
know;
My mind was bent on soldiering and I was bound to go.
Perhaps you have a mother, likewise a sister too,
And perhaps you have a sweetheart to grieve and mourn
for you.
If this be your condition, and you may wish to roam,
I advise you by experience, you'd better stay at home.
'The Texas Ranger.' Communicated by Mrs. Sutton, with the notation
"This, like many others I have, must be attributed to Mrs. J. J. Miller.
She could not read or write when I first heard her sing it. She had
doubtless never seen a cowboy nor did she have the least idea of what
the work and life of a 'Texas Ranger' was. Yet she liked these songs
very much and took a lot of pleasure in their melancholy. She said she
thought her father learned the latter in the war. He taught it to her.
Like many people whose range of experience is limited, she has a
marvelous memory." Observe that the action here is transferred from
Texas to the Civil War in Virginia.
1 Come all ye Texas Rangers
And listen unto me,
I will tell you of some trouble
That happened unto me.
2 My name is nothing extry,
My name I will not tell.
It is to you, all true rangers,
I know I wish ye well.
3 At the age of sixteen
I joined a jolly band
And marched from Western Texas
To old Virginia's land.
4 Our captain did inform us,
Because he thought it right,
Before we reached Manassas
We sure would have to fight.
5 We seen the Yankees comin',
Our captain give command ;
'To arms, to arms !' he shouted,
'And by your horses stand.'
6 We saw the Yankees comin'.
Their bullets round us hailed.
My heart sunk within me,
My courage purt' near failed.
546 NORTH CAROLINA FOLKLORE
7 We charged agin them Yankees,
We give the Rebel yell,
And many of them Yankees
They soon woke up in hell.
c
'Texas Ranger.' Communicated by J. F. Doering. Does not differ
significantly from A.
D
'Texas Rangers.' Reported by L. W. Anderson of Nag's Head from
one of his pupils there, Maxine Tillett. The first two stanzas of A.
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234
The Texas Ranger
B
'The Texas Ranger.' Sung by Mrs. J. J. Miller. Recorded as ms score at
NATIVE AMERICAN BALLADS 277
Lenoir, Caldwell county, between 1921 and 1925. The tune requires the stanzas
as printed in II 545 f. to be grouped in pairs. Basically this tune is the same as
that of the hymn 'How Firm a Foundation.'
Scale: Mode III, plagal. Tonal Center: g. Structure: aa^ba^ (2,2,2,2)
Reprisenbar.