Originally sung during the Mexican War, this song was extremely popular with General John Bell Hood's Texas troops, who substituted the word "soldier" for the original "darkey" and added the final verse as a commentary on their General's disastrous tenure as commander of the Army of Tennessee.

The "Uncle Joe" referred to in the last verse is Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston, who was relieved of his command and replaced by General Hood during the Atlanta campaign in 1864.

This song is dedicated to my mother, Hazle Hart Rankin, whose heart is still in Texas after 51 years in Virginia.

"The Yellow Rose of Texas"