BUCKSKIN SAM
[Song of the Texan Ranger]
(C. A. White, 1875)

Dashing o'er the prairie
Free from toil and care,
Scouting through the chaparals
Camping here and there,
Mounted on Mustangs as fleet
As ever comanche did ride,
Rifle always ready,
And Revolver by our side.

Chorus (verses 1 and 2):
Then mount my boys and away,
The trail is broad and clear,
And when you see the Reds,
Just at them with a cheer,
The alarm we have not forgot
And Texans never will,
And the Greasers they shall hear
It mingled with our yell, our yell, our yell.

Free and fearless over
Plain and wood we roam,
When night overtakes us,
There we make our home.
By the streamlets smooth green bank
Or on the canyon's dry bed,
From the Brazos Chaparals,
Away for the Reds.

Now by reds we're surrounded,
War cries fill the air,
Arrows darting round us,
Fiends in paint and hair,
Lances glistening in the sun,
The texans yell resounds,
Warriors give their dying whoop,
The Mustang his last bound.

Chorus for verse 3:
And on the Mexican border,
We dash *Cortina's band,
And drive the thieving Greasers
Into the Rio Grande.
They are gasping now in the water
And dying on the shore,
While remember the alamo,
Is heard 'bove battles roar,
While remember the alamo,
Is heard 'bove battles roar.
The roar, the roar, the roar.

This song is a reliable mirror of the years 1874-1875 in Texas and of the Rangers who fought there. The historical brief given here provides the background (From The Handbook of Texas Online).
Sheet music published by White, Smith and Company, Boston (also Chicago, New York, Montreal, Bangor, San Francisco and Sacramento City), 1875. Sheet Music at American Memory.

Brief History- When the Rangers were officially sanctioned in 1835, they did little more than serve as scouts and couriers. After the Alamo in 1836 and during the Battle of San Jacinto, they were on "escort" duty, helping refugees and rounding up stray cattle. Lamar changed the policies and his Congress provided for a company of 56 rangers; a month later added five more companies. The rangers waged all-out war against the Indians, in the Cherokee War and against the Comanches. In 1842, 150 rangers helped repel a Mexican invasion as well as protecting against Indian attacks.
In the Mexican War of 1846, they fought at the battles of Palo Alto and resaca de la Palma. They became General Taylor's eyes and ears: "superbly mounted, armed to the teeth with a large assortment of weapons. When Gen. Scott landed at Vera Cruz, the rangers fought in American victories, becoming known as "los diablos Tejanos." Following the War, the rangers had no official function.

In 1874, the period of the song "Buckskin Sam," the rangers returned to power along with the state Democrats. They were marshalled to fight both the Indians in the west and Mexican raiders along the Rio Grande.

Background to the song, "Buckskin Sam."
Two unique groups were formed. The Special Force of Rangers curbed lawlessness engendered by the Sutton-Taylor Feud. In 1875, they moved into the Nueces Strip (near the Rio Grande) to combat *Cortina's "bravos," mentioned in the song "Buckskin Sam." Therangers were ruthless, in 1875 gaining notoriety by stacking dead Mexican rustlers "like cordwood" in the Brownsville square.
The second unit, The Frontier Battalion, six companies with 75 rangers each, participated in 15 Indian battles in 1874, and, together with the U. S. Cavalry, destroyed the power of the Comanches and Kiowas by the end of 1875. The Frontier Battalion was no longer necessary after 1882.
The reduced number of rangers continued to engage in brush fights with the Mexicans. Between 1914 and 1919, the regular rangers, along with hundreds of special rangers appointed by Texas governors, killed some 5000 Hispanics, many of them not connected with the raids by rustlers and bandits. 'Greaser' was the operative word for Mexicans and 'red' for Indians.

At present, the Rangers are a highly educated force of crime fighters, many with law and law enforcement degrees.

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The 'ranger' on the front of the sheet music bears a resemblance to a romantic portrait of Custer.

"Ranger's Command" is in the DT, sung by Woody Guthrie (written by him) and Joan Baez. It doesn't seem to have much to do with Texas Rangers; just rangers in general.