There’s a yellow rose in Texas
That I am going to see
No other darky knows her
No one only me
She cried so when I left her
It like to broke my heart
And if I ever more find her
We nevermore will part.
One of Texas’s most famous folk songs, it has also been the genesis of one of Texas’s most famous legends. No one knows who wrote the famed lyrics of The Yellow Rose of Texas, nor even who it was written about, but it has not stopped many theories from being written about the song or the woman who inspired it.
No one is totally sure when the song was first composed. Sheet music appears for the song, published in 1858. It lists the author of the piece as “J.K.” Because of the lyrics, the author is presumed to be African-American (referring to himself as a “darky”). The Yellow Rose is presumed to be an African American of light skin color, as yellow or high yellow were used to refer to such women during the 19th century, as well as the line in the chorus “She’s the sweetest rose of color.” Beyond that there is little actual knowledge to be gained from the song as to its creator the “Yellow Rose” in question.
However it is commonly assumed that the “Yellow Rose of Texas” is a woman by the name of Emily Morgan, also known as Emily West and according to some Emily Zavala. Little is known about her history either, although again there are many stories.
According to the most popular legend of the song, Emily was a slave belonging to one James Morgan. (It is for this reason she is often given the surname Morgan). She was captured by Mexican forces during the Battle of Galveston during the Texan Revolution.
Emily’s role becomes prominent during the Battle of San Jacinto, in which Mexican General Santa Anna was captured and the war for independence won by the Texans. According to the legend the Mexicans guard was dropped during the attack because Santa Anna was seduced by Emily in his tent to provide a delay that would ensure victory for the rebelling Texans.
Again the exact origins of this legend are not clear. Most of the histories that deal with the legend were not done until the 1950’s, when the song was first popularized in the version done by Mitch Miller. Sources from the time state nothing of a woman being in Santa Anna’s tent at the time of the attack on San Jacinto.
What is known about Emily West is that she was a free woman of color, born in Connecticut. She met James Morgan in 1835 and signed on to work as his housekeeper in one of his hotels for the sum of $100 a year: he would also provide her transportation to Galveston and then to New Washington, where the hotel was located.
Emily West’s trials during the Revolution are unknown. She might have indeed been captured during the raid on Galveston, that is unclear. What is clear is that after the war she came into the acquantaince of Isaac Moreland, with whom she stayed until 1837. She asked Moreland to assist her in returning home to Connecticut, a request which was granted.
The truth about the legend of Emily West or whether or not it had anything to do with the authorship of the song “The Yellow Rose of Texas” remains a mystery. Despite the truth or untruth of the tale, it remains a popular legend and a popular song and an emblem of Texas and the Texas Revolution.
