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Texas Rangers

by R. Wayne Edwards

The brave and gallant general
Told the men in his command,
"We're going up to plunder
In the northern Texas land."

When on a distant hilltop
He saw a Texas Ranger.
He dispatched his two best men
Though he saw little danger.

They quickly chased the Texan
To the backside of the hill.
Then the general waited
For the report of their kill.

Two empty saddled horses,
He saw, were all that returned,
So he sent ten men to deal
The sure fate the Ranger earned.

Ten horses without riders
Came retreating from the hill;
So one hundred men dispatched
Just to guarantee the kill.

Soon, one wounded man returned
Tattered, bloody boot to hair.
"It's a trap," the soldier shouted,
"There're TWO Rangers over there."

Come all you Texas Rangers
Wherever you may be
An' I'll tell you of some trouble
That happened unto me

My name is nothin' extry
So that I will not tell
Come all you jolly Rangers
I'm sure I wish you well

T'was at the age of eighteen
I joined the jolly band
We marched from western Texas
Down to th Rio Grande

We saw the smokes arising
It seemed to reach th 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 are all strangers
With me you'd better stay

I thought her old and childish
An' that she did not know
An' my heart was with th Rangers
I was determin'd to go

We saw those Indians comin'
We heard them raise their yell
My feelin's at that moment
No human tongue could tell

We saw the glitterin' rifles
The bullets 'round us hail
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
N' by your horses stand

We fought for five long hours
Before the strife gave o'er
The like of dead and wounded
I never saw before

Nine of the noblest Rangers
That ever rode the west
Were buried by their comrades
With bullets in their breast