Marty Robbins – Ballad Of The Alamo lyrics

In the southern part of Texas in the town of San Antoine
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 that roll call in the sky

Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett and the hundred-eighty more
Captain Dickinson, 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 na'er see your loved ones
Travis told them that day
Those who want to can leave now
Those who fight to the death let 'em stay

In the sand he drew a line with his army sabre
Out of a hundred and eighty-five, not a soldier crossed the line
With his banners a dancin', in the dawn's golden light
Santa Ana 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 Ana turned scarlet
Play Deguello he roared!
I will show them no quarter; everyone will be put to the sword

One hundred and eight-five, holdin' back five thousand
Five day, six days, eight days, ten, Travis held, and held again
Then he'd send 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 Ana 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 Antoine
Like a statue on his pinto rides a cowboy all alone
And he sees the cattle grazin' where a century before
Santa Ana's guns were blazin' and the cannons used to roar
And his eyes turned 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 siege of Alamo