Posted on 03/06/2008 6:17:14 AM PST by yankeedame
by Marty Robbins
In the southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone,
There's a fortress all in ruin that the weeds have overgrown.
You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a one,
But sometime between the setting and the rising of the sun,
You can hear a ghostly bugle as the men go marching by;
You can hear them as they answer to that roll call in the sky:
Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett and a hundred eighty more;
Captain Dickenson, Jim Bowie, present and accounted for.
Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis:
"Get some volunteers and go fortify the Alamo."
Well, the men came from Texas and from old Tennessee,
And they joined up with Travis just to fight for the right to be free.
Indian scouts with squirrel guns, men with muzzle loaders,
Stood together heel and toe to defend the Alamo.
"You may never see your loved ones," Travis told them that day.
"Those that want to can leave now, those who'll fight to the death, let 'em stay."
In the sand he drew a line with his army sabre,
Out of a hundred eighty five, not a soldier crossed the line.
With his banners a-dancin' in the dawn's golden light,
Santa Anna came prancin' on a horse that was black as the night.
He sent an officer to tell Travis to surrender.
Travis answered with a shell and a rousin' rebel yell.
Santa Anna turned scarlet: "Play Degüello," he roared.
"I will show them no quarter, everyone will be put to the sword."
One hundred and eighty five holdin' back five thousand.
Five days, six days, eight days, ten; Travis held and held again.
Then he sent for replacements for his wounded and lame,
But the troops that were comin' never came, never came, never came.
Twice he charged, then blew recall. On the fatal third time,
Santa Anna breached the wall and he killed them one and all.
Now the bugles are silent and there's rust on each sword,
And the small band of soldiers lie asleep in the arms of The Lord.
In the southern part of Texas, near the town of San Antone,
Like a statue on his Pinto rides a cowboy all alone.
And he sees the cattle grazin' where a century before,
Santa Anna's guns were blazin' and the cannons used to roar.
And his eyes turn sort of misty, and his heart begins to glow,
And he takes his hat off slowly to the men of Alamo.
To the thirteen days of glory at the seige of Alamo.
*180 Texians,including DavidCrockett, Jim Bowie and William B. Travis,died at the Battle of
the Alamo,San Antonio,Texas. March 6,1836.
Thanks for the information. I will check it out.
Annual Bump.
A version of ‘Remember the Alamo’ that you may never have heard but is very good, is by Donovan from the 60s.
Men sacrificing all for what they love.
The Alamo.
Thermopylae.
William Wallace.
Add to the list, please.
The last part, with the song, has always put sand in my eyes. God rest them all.
...and here's a link to the Marty Robins rendition:
Patriots know that there are things really worth dying for. I don’t believe the likes of Obama would have any idea of such a thing. He would have crossed the line in the sand and bugged out.
I remember the whole class singing that song in school in Ft. Worth in fourth grade.
I also remember going to see the movie in the local theater, and whenever another wave of attacking Mexicans got mowed down, everyone in the theater stood up and cheered.
Then went to High School in Denton. Graduated there in '74.
I can remember the same types of things you cite. Lots of pride in our Texas heritage and the events that led up to the Republic of Texas and then later to statehood.
We kicked ass in 1836 and I’d be willing to do it again!
I’m locked and loaded—how about you?
Wonder what Hillary would consider to be worth dying for?
My guess is she might put herself in harm's way for 100 delegates.
I didn’t realize until I was in high school that all schools in the country didn’t teach Texas History!
Of course!
Good—let’s start at UT-Austin where they have a whole degree in Reconquesta-(sp?) where they are teaching these little darlings from Mexico that From TX all to way across and including Southern CA actually belongs to them!
I can hear Marty singing that song...
Rest in Peace, Heroes of the Alamo.
And Rest in Peace, Marty
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.