Ballad of the Alamo

Marty Robbins

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 marchin'  by
You can hear them as they  answer to the roll call in the sky

Colonel Travis,  Davy Crockett,  and a hundred  eighty more
Captain Dickinson,  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 ol' Tennes  see
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 who 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 saber
Out of a hundred and eighty-  five,  not a soul to cross 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  shell, and a  rousin' rebel yell

Santa Anna turned  scarlet, "Play  Deguello" he  roared
I will show them no  quarter, every  one 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, nevercame

Twice he charged and 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

Santa Anna's guns were blazin', and the  cannon used to  roar

And his eyes turn sorta  misty as 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