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Ballad of the Alamo

The Ballad of the Alamo, by Dimitri Tiomkin and Paul Francis Webster[?])

In the southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone

There's a fortress all in ruins that the weeds have overgrown

You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a one

But sometimes 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 eighteen thirty-six - 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 ne'er see your loved ones" Travis told them that day

"Those that want to can leave now, those that 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 ...

Sent an officer to tell - Travis to surrender

Travis answered with a shout and a rousin' rebel yell

Santa Anna turned scarlet, "Play [*Deguello]", 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 them to 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 sorta 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 siege of Alamo.

A well-recognized version of this song is sung by Marty Robbins.

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