The lyric “The yellow rose of Texas is the only girl for me” completes a well-known line from the folk song.
“The Yellow Rose of Texas” was published as a minstrel song in the 1850s and later became associated with Texas identity. Its early history includes racialized language and disputed interpretations, so modern performances often use revised lyrics.
The song’s melody became widely known during the American Civil War, when versions were sung by both Union and Confederate forces. It has since appeared in country, folk, marching, and popular arrangements.
The phrase “yellow rose” can refer to a person, a flower, or a symbolic image of Texas, depending on the version.