The Yellow Rose of Texas.

[Danny]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

...You're right, old Uncle Dave did that a lot.Joe Walker...Waco Guards

For the uninitiate, that's Uncle Dave Macon, a 20th century performer who learned singing styles and stage antics directly from the remaining Minstrels of the 19th century, only starting his own performing career quite late in life.

Dan Wykes

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

A copy of the original poem has been requested; it will take a few weeks as they are backed up. There was no music in the files, nor mention of any tune for the poem. The manuscript also is not dated. As soon as I have a copy of the original manuscript I will scan it for you to see.

[Danny]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

A copy of the original poem has been requested...I will scan it for you to see.

Annette -

Just a mention that we singers of this heritage Southern ditty appreciate your extra effort :)

- Dan Wykes, with Joel, Marc, Hank, and the "Dixie Dewdrop"*

*Uncle Dave Macon

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Just an update on the copy of the poem. It is ready to pickup but I can't get over there to get it until next week. Sorry for the delay.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Yellow Rose of Texas....I left her in El Paso:(

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Bet you thought I forgot; sorry, other things took over for a bit. So here are scans of copies from the Center for American History here in Austin.

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Now that I have had time to really look at the document, it appears the document is written as a song as part way down is written "Chorus"; so it would appear it's not a poem in this version.

[Danny]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

". . . and if I ever find her, we never more will fart." ??

Annette -

I don't quite get that part ;) . . . but thank you so much for posting the excellent hi-res scans. I think it's interesting to remind us of the voice of the song as written: ". . . no other darky knows her, none only me . . ." If a popular tune for white Texans and other Southerns, imagine how quickly that voice was dropped.

Anyway, no answer to which tune the writer had in mind for these lyrics, which as you say were definitely intended as song lyrics and not just a poem as those other educated sources would have us believe.

Dan Wykes

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

LOL. Yes, I thought it said fart too, but I believe it should be part :). I really hate trying to read period script, especially when it's not in a professional or legal document. Also, if you try to sing it to the tune we know now, there are parts that don't quite fit.

I just opened the scans here at home...I'm so sorry, they looked great at work. I'll get better scans up soon.

[Danny]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

... if you try to sing it to the tune we know now, there are parts that don't quite fit... just opened the scans here at home...I'm so sorry, they looked great at work. I'll get better scans up soon.

Annette -

The scans are very good quality, no need for better - some home desktop photo programs or the Windows viewers don't display full quality as a default. If you have Photoshop at home, use that and you'll see it's fine.

Actually I'm finding the archive words still do fit the tune we know now, the 1858 published document. The author needed to cram all on one piece of paper so didn't indicate breaks. One possible clue though was the way the author took pains to underline certain word pairs or sets. He could have just underlined everything but made more work of it for some reason. I'm thinking it was to emphasize the way it was sung, which in fact does make sense with the 1858 published version if you keep a metered beat using those joined word pairs and sets.

I transcript the earlier handwritten here with the original unique underline choices:

There's a yellow rose in Texas
That I am a going to see
No other darky knows her
None only me

She cryed so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever find her
we never more will part

Chorus

She is the sweetest rose of color
This darky ever knew
Her eyes are bright as diamonds
They sparkle like the dew

You may talk a bout dearest may
and sing of Rosa Lee
But the yellow rose of Texas
Beats the belles of Tennessee

Where the Rio Grande is flowing
and the starry skies are bright
She walks a long the river in the
quite Summer night

She thinks if I remember
when we started long ago
I promised to come back a gain
and not to leave her so

Oh now I am a going to find her
for my heart is full of woe
and we will sing the song together
we sung so long ago

Dan Wykes

p.s. notice how the last verse as originally written takes on the meaning that the Yellow Rose and the author will "sing the song together we sung so long ago" In other words their song, not this song. Lends a more romantic, possibly more personal and real slant to the little song.

[Hank Trent]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

You may talk a bout dearest may
and sing of Rosa Lee
But the yellow rose of Texas
Beats the belles of Tennessee

That's the part I was wondering about, to see if it was actually in the manuscript... And by the way, the scans showed up beautifully for me as well.

Is this the manuscript that they claim was "written just after the battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836)" from Post #2 in this thread? What date are they claiming for the manuscript?

Because I believe it's no earlier than the late 1840s. Either that, or two other songs need to have their dates of origin changed as well.

"talk about dearest May"--that's surely a reference to the song Dearest Mae, generally first dated to 1848.

"sing of Rosa Lee"--that's surely a reference to Rosa Lee, generally first dated to 1847.

Dearest Mae and Rosa Lee were sometimes paired together, so it's no surprise to see them both mentioned together in another song.

The "belles of Tennessee" may also be a reference to the first line of Rosa Lee, "When I lived in Tennessee..."

So I think if this manuscript is to be dated earlier than the late forties, there also needs to be evidence that both Rosa Lee and Dearest Mae were famous enough to use as a common reference, at an earlier date as well. Otherwise, the coincidence of making reference to two common songs from the future is too great.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

Yes, this is the handwritten pages from the Austin History Center that is referenced in quite a few pieces on the song. There was no dated information in the file referenced to this document other than what is mentioned in the Handbook of Texas. A quick search for an E.A. Jones didn't bring up anything either.

Glad the scans are coming through ok for y'all after all.

[Danny]

"talk about dearest May"--that's surely a reference to the song...Dearest Mae... /
"sing of Rosa Lee"--that's surely a reference to Rosa Lee...Hank Trent

Hank -

Good observation.
Folks, read the lyrics (.txt) attached, and click on these here for a listen* :

Rosa Lee (also known as Don't Be Foolish Joe):
http://albert-baur.googlegroups.com/...g4kVvxIQu24W-d

Dearest Mae (also known as Dearest May)
http://albert-baur.googlegroups.com/...g4kVvxIQu24W-d

Dan Wykes

*I know, I hate .mid files too, but at least you get the idea from these renditions above. The original compositions were likely meant to be played slower

[sthabig]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

I have heard the version sung by Bobby Horton that includes Gen. Lee and Uncle Joe which had been mentioned earlier which brings me to the question...who creates the most authentic (what I mean by that is music that existed and was sung during the war and not after) music?

Thank you,

Tyler Habig

[Annette Bethke]

Re: The Yellow Rose of Texas.

I found this while going through Vicki Betts Newspaper transcriptions.

[From the Charleston Courier.]
Song of the Texas Rangers.
Inscribed to Mrs. General John A. Wharton.
Air--The Yellow Rose of Texas.

The morning star is paling,
The camp-fires flicker low,
Our steeds are madly neighing,
For the bugle bids us go,
So put the foot in stirrup,
And shake the bridle free,
For to-day the Texas Rangers
Must cross the Tennessee
With Wharton for our leader,
We'll chase the dastard foe,
Till our horses bathe their fetlocks
In the deep, blue Ohio.

Our men are from the prairies,
That roll broad, and proud and free,
From the high and craggy mountains
To the murmuring Mexic sea;
And their hearts are open as their plains,
Their thoughts are proudly brave,
As the bold cliffs of the San Bernard,
Or the Gulf's resistless wave.
Then quick! into the saddle,
And shake the bridle free,
To-day with gallant Wharton
We'll cross the Tennessee

'Tis joy to be a Ranger!
To fight for dear Southland;
'Tis joy to follow Wharton,
With his gallant, trusty band!
'Tis joy to see our Harrison,
Plunge like a meteor bright,
Into the thickest of the fray,
And deal his deathly might.
Oh! who would not be a Ranger,
And follow Wharton's cry!
To battle for their country--
And, if needs be--die!

By the Colorado's waters,
Or the Gulf's deep murmuring shore,
On our soft green peaceful prairies,
Are homes we may see no more;
But in those homes our gentle wives,
And mothers with silv'ry hairs,
Are loving us with tender hearts
And shielding us with prayers.
So trusting in our country's God,
We draw our stout, good brand,
For those we love at home,
Our altars and our land.

Up, up with the crimson battle-flag--
Let the blue penon fly;
Our steeds are stamping proudly-
They hear the battle-cry!
The thundering bomb, the bugle's call--
Proclaim the foe is near;
We strike for God and native land,
And all we hold most dear.
Then, spring into the saddle,
And shake the bridle free--
For Wharton leads, thro' fire and blood,
For Home and Victory.
SAN ANTONIO HERALD, March 14, 1863, p. 1, c. 2