THE CURIOUS HISTORY OF "THE YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS"

 

Most of us are familiar with the song "The Yellow Rose of Texas" but only recently did I learn the story behind the song (uhhh no, this is not a vh1 special).

The final and decisive battle in the Texas War of Revolution with Mexico was the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21,1836. The Mexican army under command of General Santa Ana was totally unprepared for battle and was defeated in 18 minutes by the Texas army led by General Sam Houston. Texas folklore and this song point to the reason why the Mexicans lost because was that they were "caught with their pants down"...literally.

This tale says that Santa Ana was busy having sex with one Emily West, a free, mixed race woman. She was an indentured servant who had been kidnapped by the Mexican army and was staying in Santa Ana's camp.

In the realm of American colorism, the term "high yellow" was given to those light-skinned persons of White and Black parentage. Folks in this designation were considered part of the social class elite among people of color.

Now, it was known that Santa Ana had a "distinct aversion" to the mixing of races and in fact blamed this for the troubles of Mexico. 

So, perhaps this song is a cheeky piece of Texan propaganda rubbing Mexican noses in their defeat: you lost because your guy was busy, busy with one of those women. Has a nice schoolyard feel about it.