Ballad of the Alamo

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In the southern part of Texas 
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In the town of San Antone 
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There's a fortress all in ruins that the weeds have overgrown 
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You may look in vain for crosses and you'll never see a-one 
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But sometimes between the setting and the rising of the sun 
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You can hear a ghostly bugle 
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As the men go marching by 
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You can hear them as they answer 
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To that roll call in the sky. 
 
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Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett, and a hundred eighty more 
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Captain Dickinson, Jim Bowie 
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Present and accounted for. 
 
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Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis 
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"Get some volunteers and go 
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Fortify the Alamo." 
 
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Well the men came from Texas 
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And from old Tennessee 
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And they joined up with Travis 
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Just to fight for the right to be free. 
 
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Indian scouts with squirrel guns 
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Men with muzzle-loaders 
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Stood together, heel and toe 
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To defend the Alamo. 
 
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"You may ne'er see your loved ones," 
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Travis told them that day 
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"Those who want to can leave now 
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Those who fight to the death let 'em stay." 
 
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In the sand he drew a line 
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With his army sabre 
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Out of a hundred eighty five 
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Not a soldier crossed the line 
 
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With his banners a-dancin' 
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In the dawn's golden light 
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Santa Anna came prancing 
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On a horse that was black as the night. 
 
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Sent an officer to tell 
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Travis to surrender 
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Travis answered with a shell 
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And a rousing rebel yell 
 
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Santa Anna turned scarlet 
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"Play deguello!" he roared 
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"I will show them no quarter 
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Every one will be put to the sword!" 
 
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One hundred and eighty five 
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Holding back five thousand 
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Five days, six days, eight days, ten 
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Travis held and held again 
 
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Then he sent for replacements 
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For his wounded and lame 
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But the troops that were coming 
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Never came, never came, never came... 
 
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Twice he charged and blew recall 
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On the fatal third time 
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Santa Anna breached the wall 
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And he killed 'em, one and all 
 
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Now the bugles are silent 
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And there's rust on each sword 
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And the small band of soldiers... 
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Lie asleep in the arms of the Lord... 
 
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In the southern part of Texas 
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Near the town of San Antone 
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Like a statue on his pinto rides a cowboy all alone 
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And he sees the cattle grazing where a century before 
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Santa Anna's guns were blazing and the cannons used to roar 
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And his eyes turn sorta misty 
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And his heart begins to glow 
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And he takes his hat off slowly... 
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To the men of Alamo. 
 
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To the thirteen days of glory 
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At the siege of Alamo.. 
  
ambChile