jane bowers
Jane Gardner Riley Bowers was an internationally recognized songwriter who withdrew from publicity and trade, conflicting the music industry. 35 titles are registered with BMI, many of them recorded by the Kingston Trio. But this one was first cut by Tex Ritter in 1955, *then* made famous by the trio. Else, little information about her is available, except for her birthday (29th of May 1921) and dying day (18th of June 2000), and that her settlement in Texas was lifelong.
The scene is the Battle of the Alamo, where more than 200 texians were massacred in the Texas Revolution (1835-1836) climax, which is described in THIS article, and the songtitle is a slogan that arose immediately after the battle was over.
The song is regarded as one of the best western songs ever written, and I remember it from my childhood. Why I didn't capture it until 2019, the heck I know ...
a hundred and eighty were challenged by Travis to die
by a line that he drew with his sword when the battle was nigh
the man who would fight to the death would cross over
but him that would live better fly
and over the line stepped a hundred and seventy nine
high up Santa Anna : we're killing your soldiers below
for the rest of Texas to know
and remember the Alamo
Jim Bowie lay dying : his powder was ready and dry
from flat on his back Bowie killed him a few in reply
and young Davy Crockett was smiling and laughing
with gallantry fears in his eyes
for Texas and freedom : a man more than willing to die
they sent a young scout from the battlements bloody and loud
with words of farewell from a garrison valiant and proud
"grieve not little darling my dying
if Texas is sovereign and free
we'll never surrender and ever with liberty be!"
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
G D7 Em C G ...D7...G...D7 a hundred and eighty were challenged by Travis to die G D7 Em C G ...D7...G...G7 by a line that he drew with his sword when the battle was nigh C Bm E7 the man who would fight to the death would cross over Am C G ...D7 but him that would live better fly G D7 Em C G ...G7 and over the line stepped a hundred and seventy nine C Bm ...B7 high up Santa Anna we're killing your soldiers below Am C G ...E7 for the rest of Texas to know Am G ...D7...G...D7...G and remember the Alamo
