Come all you Texas Rangers
Wherever you may be
I'll tell to you of some troubles
That happened unto me
And my name's nothing extra
So that I will not tell
But here's to all you rangers
I'm sure I wish you well
Twas at the age of 20
I joined the ranger band
We marched from San Antonio
Down to the Rio Grande
Our captain he informed us
Perhaps he thought it right
Before you reach the station boys
We'll surely have to fight
And when the bugle sounded
And our captain gave command
To arms to arms he shouted
And by your horses stand
I saw the smoke ascending
And it seemed to reach the sky
The first thought then it struck me
My time has come to die
I saw the Indians coming
I heard them give their yell
My feelings at that moment
No tongue can ever tell
I saw their glittering lances
Their arrows 'round me flew
And all my strength it left me
And all my courage too
We fought them for nine hours
Before the strike was o'er
The like of dead and wounded
I never saw before
And as the sun was rising
The Indians they had fled
We loaded up our rifles
And counted up our dead
And all of us were wounded
Our noble captain slain
The sun was shining sadly
All on that flooded plain
Sixteen as brave a rangers
As ever roamed the west
Were buried by their comrades
With arrows in their breasts
I've seen the fruits of rambling
I know it's hardships well
I've been in the Rocky Mountains
Rode down the streets of hell
I've been in the great southwest boys
Where the wild Apache roam
And I can tell you from experience
You're better off at home
And now my song is ended
I'm sure I've sung enough
The life of a Texas Ranger boys
You see is very tough
And here's to all you ladies
I'm sure I wish you well
I'm bound to go a ranging
So ladies fare you well
