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The Ballad of Susanna Dickinson
© Jennifer Mansfield 1999

I come from the Alamo mission
General Houston, I saw the men fall
Four thousand Mexican soldiers
To one hundred ninety defenders in all
For thirteen days they could not take her
This Santa Anna called “some small affair”
From where I was standing his soldiers fell dead
Six to one of the Texans, I swear

I am a messenger, I am a messenger
I and my baby, we are the survivors
With each step the pony takes
Through stone and cedar break
I pray
For the souls
Of the brave, fallen men
And lay curse on the head of Santa Anna

The general brought me before him
I with Angelina stood there in his tent
He offered his camp for a refuge,
A place with his whores was what the fool meant
Thus glittered the great Santa Anna
Puffed with his victories, fat with largesse
Proud of his English, the sleek well-bred criminal
Found me no challenge at chess

(Chorus)

The Alamo, General Houston,
Now says its mass for coyotes and snakes
If I’d had a bayonet I’d be there with them
For all of the difference it’d make
No prisoners there, no surrender
By San Antonio’s river they rot
Travis and Bowie and all Crockett’s volunteers
Lie by the walls where they fought

(Chorus)

© 2004 Jennifer Mansfield Peal. All Rights Reserved.