Gregorio Cortez: A Historic Pursuit Across Texas

1
En el condado de Carnes
miren lo que ha sucedido,
murió el Cherife Mayor
quedando Román herido.

2
Serían las dos de la tarde
cuando la gente llegó,
unos a los otros dicen:
--No saben quién lo mató.

3
Se anduvireron informando
como media hora después,
supieron quel malhechor
era Gregorio Cortez.

4
Ya insortaron a Cortez
por toditito el estado,
que vivo o muerto se aprehenda
porqué a varios ha matado.

5
Decía Gregorio Cortez
con su pistola en la mano:
--No siento haberlo matado,
lo que siento es a mi hermano.

6
Decía Gregorio Cortez
con su alma muy encendida:
--No siento haberlo matado,
la defensa es permitida.

7
Venían los americanos
más blancos que una paloma,
de miedo que le tenían
a Cortez y a su pistola.

8
Decían los americanos,
decían con timidez:
--Vamos a seguir la huella
que el malhechor es Cortez.

9
Le echaron los perros jaunes
pa'que siguieran la huella,
pero alcanzar a Cortez
era seguir a una estrella.

10
Tiró con rumbo a Gonzales
sin ninguna timidez:
--Síganme rinches cobardes,
yo soy Gregorio Cortez.

11
Se fue de Belmont al rancho,
lo alcanzaron a rodear,
poquitos más de trescientos,
y allí les brincó el corral.

In the county of Karnes,
Look what has happened;
The Major Sheriff died,
Leaving Román badly wounded.

It must have been two in the afternoon
When people arrived;
They said to one another,
"It is not known who killed him."

They went around asking questions,
About half an hour afterward,
They found that the wrongdoer
Had been Gregorio Cortez.

Now they have outlawed Cortez,
Throughout the whole state;
Let him be taken, dead or alive;
He has killed several men.

They said Gregorio Cortez,
With his pistol in his hand,
"I don't regret that I killed him;
I regret my brother's death."

Then said Gregorio Cortez,
And his soul was all aflame,
"I don't regret that I killed him;
A man must defend himself."

The Americans were coming,
They were whiter than a dove,
From the fear that they had
Of Cortez and of his pistol.

Then the Americans said,
Then they said fearfully,
"Come, let us follow the trail;
The wrongdoer is Cortez."

They set the bloodhounds on him,
So they could follow his trail,
But trying to overtake Cortez
Was like following a star.

He struck out for Gonzales
Without showing any fear,
"Follow me, cowardly rangers,
I am Gregorio Cortez."

From Belmont, he went to the ranch,
They succeeded in surrounding him,
Quite a few more than three hundred,
But there he jumped their corral.

When he jumped their corral,
According to what we hear,
They got into a gunfight,
And he killed them another sheriff.

Then said Gregorio Cortez,
With his pistol in his hand,
"Don't run, you cowardly rangers,
From just one Mexican."

Gregorio Cortez went out,
He went towards Laredo
They decided not to follow
Because they were afraid of him.

Then said Gregorio Cortez,
"What is the use of your scheming?
You cannot catch me,
Even with those bloodhounds."

Then the Americans said,
"If we catch you with him, what shall we do?
If we fight him man to man,
Very few of us will return."

Over by El Encinal,
According to what we hear,
They made him a corral,
And he killed them another sheriff.

Then said Gregorio Cortez,
Shooting out a lot of bullets,
"I have weathered thunderstorms;
This little mist doesn't bother me."

Now he has met a Mexican;
He says to him haughtily,
"Tell me the news;
I am Gregorio Cortez."

"It is said that because of me
Many people have been killed;
I will surrender now
Because such things are not right."

Cortez says to Jesús,
"At last you are going to see it;
Go tell the rangers
To come and arrest me."

All the rangers were coming,
Coming so fast they even flew,
For they wanted to get
The thousand dollars they were offered.

When they surrounded the house,
Cortez suddenly appeared before them,
"You will take me if I'm willing,
But not any other way."

Then the Major Sheriff said,
As if he was going to cry,
"Cortez, hand over your weapons;
We are not going to kill."

Then said Gregorio Cortez,
Shouting to them in a loud voice,
"I won't surrender my arms
Until I am in a cell."

Then said Gregorio Cortez,
He said in his godly voice,
"I won't surrender my arms
Until I'm inside a jail."

Now they have taken Cortez,
Now matters are at an end,
His poor family
Are suffering in their hearts.

Now with this I say farewell,
In the shade of a cypress tree;
This is the end of the singing
Of the ballad of Cortez.

En el Condado de Carmen, miren lo que sucedido,
Murió el Cherife Mayor quedando Román herido.
Otro día por la mañana cuando la gente llegó,
Unos a los otros dicen: -No saben quién lo mató.

Se anduvieron informando come tres horas después,
Supieron que el malhechor era Gregorio Cortez
Ya insortaron a Cortez por toditito el estado,
Que vivo o muerto se aprehenda porqué a varios ha matado.

Decía Gregorio Cortez con su pistola en la mano:
-No siento haberlo matado, lo que siento mi hermano.
Decía Gregorio Cortez con su alma muy encendida:
-No siento haberlo matado, la defense es permitida.

Venían los americanos que por el viento volaban
Porque se iban ganar tres mil pesos que les daban.
Tiró con rumbo a Gonzales varios cherifes lo vieron,
No lo quisieron seguir porque le tuvieron miedo.

Venían los perros jaunes, venían sobre la huella
Pero alcanzar a Cortez era seguir a una estrella.
Decía Gregorio Cortez: - ¿Pá qué se valen de planes?
Si no me puedan agarrarme ni con esos perros jaunes.

Ya con ésta me despido a la sombra de un ciprés,
Aquí se acaba cantando la tragedia de Cortez.

The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez
Performed by Piñata Protest
December 10, 2024

In the county of El Carmen, look what has happened.
The Major Sheriff died, leaving Román badly wounded.
The next day, in the morning, when people arrived,
They said to one another, “It is not known who killed him.”

They went around asking questions, about half an hour afterward
They found that the wrongdoer had been Gregorio Cortez.
Now, they outlawed Cortez throughout the whole state
Let him be taken, dead or alive; He has killed several men.

Then said Gregorio Cortez, with his pistol in his hand,
“I don't regret that I killed him; I regret my brother's death.”
Then said Gregorio Cortez, and his soul was all aflame,
“I don't regret that I killed him; a man must defend himself.”

The bloodhounds were coming, they were coming on the trail,
But overtaking Cortez was like following a star.
Then said Gregorio Cortez, “What is the use of your scheming?”
“You cannot catch me, even with those bloodhounds.”
“You cannot catch me, even with those bloodhounds.”
Now, with this, I say farewell in the shade of a cypress tree.
This is the end of the singing of the ballad about Cortez.