Ballad of the Alamo chords

Marty Robbins

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Simplify chords 

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