Lyr Add: Mustang Gray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Rex
Date: 11 Aug 14 - 10:35 PM

It is mighty good of Q to give mention of the Book/CD, Jack Thorp's Songs of the Cowboys. The songs and poems were chosen from Thorp's 1st and 2nd editions, the track lists are grouped below. Each song/poem that appears in the book is recorded on the CD as well. Ti Ri Youdy was found in Thorp's hand written notebook and was never recorded or published until this Book/CD.

Jack Thorp's Songs of the Cowboys

Previously Unpublished Thorp Song

1. Ti Ri Youdy

Songs from First Edition (1908)

2. The Texas Cowboy
3. The Tenderfoot
4. Little Joe, the Wrangler
7. Windy Bill
9. Chopo
10. Grand Round-up
11. Bucking Broncho
12. The Cowboy's Christmas Ball
14. Sam Bass
15. Mustang Gray
16. Cowboy's Lament

Songs from Second Edition (1921)

5. Three-Block Tom (poem)
6. Get Along. Little Dogies
8. My Little Brown Mule (poem)
13. The Gal I Left Behind Me
17. What's Become of the Punchers (poem)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 01:24 PM

I have confused La Ascensión, which is in Chihuahua near the tiny boot heel of New Mexico, with La Ascención which is much farther south. I believe Thorp meant the border town.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 12:58 PM

La Ascención.
(Correction)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Aug 14 - 12:56 PM

In his enlarged 1921 "Songs of the Cowboys, Thorp said, "Authorship credited to Tom Grey, Tularosa, New Mexico, I first heard it sung by a man called Sanford, who kept a saloon at La Ascension*, Mexico, about 1888."
*La Ascenci*#243;n.

In the 2005 book, "Jack Thorp's Songs of the Cowboys," edited by Mark L. Gardner, with a CD performed by Mark L. Gardner and Rex Rideout, is a good biography and tribute to Thorp. All songs of the 1921 edition are included.
The CD is performed in historic styles with period instruments, and includes "Mustang Gray" with 1908 text.
Museum of New Mexico Press, Santa Fe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Aug 14 - 12:05 PM

Error- Mustang gray died in 1848, not 1840. Texas Almanac.

Subject: Lyr Add: MUSTANG GREY (from Hermes Nye)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Aug 14 - 09:56 PM

MUSTANG GREY
As recorded by Hermes Nye on "Soldier Songs" (Folkways, 1959)

1. They once't was a noble ranger; his name was Mustang Grey.
He left his home when but a youth, went a-rangin' fur away.

CHORUS: But no more he'll go a-rangin', the savage to affright.
He's heard his last war-whoop and fought his last brave fight.

2. When Texas was invaded by a mighty tyrant foe,
He mounted his noble war horse and a-rangin' he did go.

3. Once't he was taken pris'ner, bound in chains upon the way.
He wore the yoke of bondage through the streets of Monterrey.

CHORUS

4. A senorita loved him and follered by his side.
She opened the gates and give to him her father's team to ride.

5. God bless the senorita, the belle of Monterrey.
She opened wide the prison door and let him ride away.

6. And when this veteran's life was spent, it was his last command
To bury him on the Texas soil on the banks of the Rio Grande,

7. And there the lonely traveler, when passin' by his grave,
Will shed a farewell tear for the bravest of the brave.

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 03:33 PM

Lyr. Add: MUSTANG GRAY 2
Everett Dick, in "The Long Drive."

There was once a noble ranger,
They called him Mustang Gray;
He left his home when but a youth,
Went ranging far away.

Chorus-
But he'll go no more a-ranging
The savage to affront;
He has heard his last war whoop,
And fought his last fight.

2
He ne'er would sleep within a tent,
No comforts would he know;
But like a brave old Tex-I-an,
A-ranging he did go.
3
Once he was taken prisoner,
Bound in chains upon the way;
He wore a yoke of bondage
Through the streets of Monterrey.
4
A señorita loved him
And followed by his side;
She opened the gates and gave to him
Her father's steed to ride.
5
God bless the señorita,
The belle of Monterrey;
She opened wide the prison door
And let him ride away.
6
And when the veteran's life was spent
It was his last command
To bury him on Texas soil
On the banks of the Rio Grande.
7
And there the lonely traveler,
When passing by his grave,
Will shed a farewell tear
O'er the bravest of the brave.

"The Long Drive," Kansas Historical Collections, vol. 17, 1926-1928, pp. 93-94. With musical score, Varsity 5135.

Song based on a "ballad opera" composed by John Hill, 1848.

From Fife and Fife, 1969, Cowboy and Western Songs, pp. 140-141.

Subject: Lyr Add: Mustang Gray
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Aug 14 - 01:34 PM

Lyr. Add: MUSTANG GRAY
Version; N. Howard Thorp, 1908

1
There was a brave old Texan
They called him Mustang Gray
He left his home when quite a boy
And went roaming far away.

Chorus-
He'l go no more a rangering
Those savages to affright
He has heard his last war-whoop
He fought his last fight.

2
When our country was invaded
By the Indian warrior train's
He used to mount his noble charger
And scout the hills and plains.
3
He would not sleep within a tent
No pleasures did he know
But like a brave old frontiersman
A-scouting he would go.
4
Once he was taken prisoner
And carried far away
Had to wear the yoke of bondage
Through the streets of *Monterey
5
A señorita loved him
And with a brave woman's pride
She opened the gates and gave him
Her father's horse to ride.
6
And when this gallant life was spent
This was his last command
Pray bury me in old Texas soil
On the banks of the Rio Grande.
7
And when the weary traveller
Is passing by his grave
He may sometimes shed a farewell tear
O'er the bravest of the brave.

Thorp's 1st. version, from his 1908 "Songs of the Cowboy," is incomplete, but it is the earliest in the Traditional Ballad Index.
*Spelling and punctuation retained.
It bears a relationship to "Maid of Monterrey."
There is a version in the DT from Lomax.

Ranger Mabry (Mustang) Gray was a killer, once murdering a band of innocent Mexican traders He died in 1840 of cholera. See thread 108643, Texas Ranger melody origin.