Charlie Russell, in his story "Longrope's Last Guard," on night guard, let the cattle know where he was by singing "Texas Rangers." In Glenn Ohrlin, "The Hell-Bound Train," p. 129. The song was a favorite with cowboys. Russell commented that the song was a long one and few cowboys knew all the verses.
Ohrlin gives a version, with score, pp. 130-131.

Austin and Alta Fife, 1970, "Ballads of the Great West," comment that there are scores of versions, and quote one from Halpert, "New York Folksong Collection." It dwells more strongly than most on thoughts of mother, a sweetheart, and dead parents "on the golden shore," than most. "Five hundred rangers" are killed in this version.