N. Howard Thorp: Collected Lyrics
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Public-domain lyrics

Mustang Gray

N. Howard Thorp

“Mustang Gray” as printed in Songs of the Cowboys (1921).

N. Howard Thorp: Collected Lyrics Text 9 1921 · historical text
Public domainCowboy songFolk
Complete public-domain lyrics

This text comes from Songs of the Cowboys, a historical songbook transcribed on Wikisource and reproduced from the pinned revision linked below.

Verse 1

There was a brave old Texan,

They called him Mustang Gray;

He left his home when but a youth,

Went ranging far away.

Verse 2

But he’ll go no more a-ranging,

The savage to affright;

He has heard his last war-whoop,

And fought his last fight.

Verse 3

He ne’er would sleep within a tent,

No comforts would he know;

But like a brave old Tex-i-can,

A-ranging he would go.

Verse 4

When Texas was invaded

By a mighty tyrant foe,

He mounted his noble war-horse,

And a-ranging he did go.

Verse 5

Once he was taken prisoner,

Bound in chains upon the way;

He wore the yoke of bondage

Through the streets of Monterey.

Verse 6

A señorita loved him,

And followed by his side;

She opened the gates and gave to him

Her father’s steed to ride.

Verse 7

God bless the señorita,

The belle of Monterey,

She opened wide the prison door,

And let him ride away.

Verse 8

And when his veteran’s life was spent,

It was his last command

To bury him on Texas soil

On the banks of the Rio Grande;

Verse 9

And there the lonely traveler,

When passing by his grave,

Will shed a farewell tear

O’er the bravest of the brave.

Verse 10

And he’ll go no more a-ranging,

The savage to affright;

He has heard his last war-whoop,

And fought his last fight.

Credits

Written by N. Howard Thorp

Words by N. Howard Thorp. Historical text published in Songs of the Cowboys (1921); public domain. No claim to a modern recording or arrangement.

Source & text edition

Songs of the Cowboys (1921), “Mustang Gray”

The 1921 published edition (collected by N. Howard Thorp) is in the public domain in the United States (pre-1931 publication). Entries whose credited author died more than 70 years ago are also in the public domain in life-plus-70 jurisdictions; traditional entries are public domain.

How to read this historical text and its source

Read the source on Wikisource

View copyright evidence · Transcription terms (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Retrieved 2026-10-26. Line spacing and section labels are adapted for reading. The displayed text follows the linked edition. Editorial notes and abstract artwork are by 52lyrics.
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