I’ve always wished there was a song about Texas Jack. He was the first famous cowboy, married the world’s most famous ballerina, and lived a life packed with more adventure than any western book, movie, or TV episode could contain. It seems to me like if the genre of western music exists, Texas Jack should have a song. Well, I finally found one.
Here’s a taste of the ballad that brings Texas Jack’s legend to life:
"Texas Jack riding high over prairies and plain
With his gun at his side and fire in his veins
Out where legends remain and they never turn back
Is the cowboy they call Texas Jack"
The song captures Jack’s daring exploits, from riding alongside Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody to his love story with Giuseppina Morlacchi, the Italian dancer who stole his heart. It paints a vivid picture of the Old West’s rugged romance, with Texas Jack always standing tall.
But here’s the twist—it wasn’t crafted by a musician or songwriter. This entire song was made with AI.
Here’s How I Did It: AI Magic Behind the Scenes
Instead of writing the song myself, I turned to ChatGPT. I gave the text of my book to provide it with the background of Texas Jack’s legendary life, and it quickly produced lyrics that fit the style of a classic cowboy ballad. After making some small adjustments for rhythm and meter, the lyrical portion of the song was ready to go.
Next, I used Suno AI to create a melody that had that classic Country/Western sound, and MidJourney AI helped me design a visual of Texas Jack to use as cover art. I uploaded the song and the image to YouTube, and just like that, I had a full song about Texas Jack out in the world.
We've Talked About This Before: AI and History
This isn’t the first time I’ve explored how AI can bring history to life. In previous posts, I’ve written about how AI can sharpen old images , animate historic photos, and even help tell historical stories through animated pictures. I’ve used it to create art from text prompts and generate videos from descriptions. AI has become a powerful tool for reimagining history in creative ways.
A Word of Caution
While AI is fun and offers incredible potential for creativity, this is also a reminder that we can’t always trust what we see, hear, watch, or read online. There are multiple AI-generated videos, pictures, and audio clips of the two candidates for President of the United States floating around right now, hoping to either dissuade you from or convince you to vote for the chosen candidate of whoever wrote the AI prompt. Sometimes, that's a historian playing with a song, but sometimes, it's a bad actor from a hostile foreign power. AI-generated content is everywhere now, and it can blur the lines between reality and fiction in ways that might surprise you. Stay curious and creative—but also stay cautious when you’re consuming media online. You never know what might be crafted by an algorithm!
He rode out of Virginia with the cavalry’s call,
Texas Jack Omohundro, the bravest of them all.
A scout and a soldier, his legend grew fast,
Out on the wide-open prairie, his name sure would last.
With a rifle in hand and a heart made of steel,
Through war and the west, he was quick on the heel.
He tracked for the army and found every trail,
And his story grew stronger with each passing tale.
Texas Jack riding high over prairies and plains
With his gun at his side and fire in his veins
Out where legends remain and they never turn back
Is the cowboy they call Texas Jack
With Wild Bill and Bill Cody, Jack stood side by side,
Their fame grew as their story was spread far and wide.
But it wasn’t just theater, it wasn’t just for show,
Jack was the real deal, everybody should know.
On the Llano Estacado, he tamed the wild skies,
With a lasso in hand and a fire in his eyes.
He rode with a passion and never done wrong,
In the heat of the moment, Jack always stood strong.
Texas Jack riding high over prairies and plains
With his gun at his side and fire in his veins
Out where legends remain and they never turn back
Is the cowboy they call Texas Jack
He met her in the spotlight, when the curtains rose high,
Giuseppina Morlacchi, with leaps like she could fly.
A famous Italian dancer, with beauty untold,
She caught the heart of old Jack, so daring and bold.
She danced through the theater, while he tamed the wild west,
Together they shone brighter than all of the rest.
Her pirouettes on stage, his ride across the plains,
Their love like a whirlwind, unfettered, unreined
They traveled the country, from city to town,
She in silk and satin, he in buckskins worn down.
With the Wild West behind them, their lives intertwined,
A cowboy and ballerina, two hearts that combined.
She’d twirl to his stories of danger and dust,
He’d smile at her beauty, in love and in trust.
Though their worlds were so different, they shared a sweet song,
And with Giuseppina, Texas Jack found where he belonged.
Texas Jack riding high over prairies and plains
With his gun at his side and fire in his veins
Out where legend remain and they never turn back
Is the cowboy they call Texas Jack
Through dust storms and danger, Texas Jack didn't fall,
And his tales and adventures echoed loud through it all.
And when they laid him to rest, the west said goodbye,
But his spirit still rides where the wild coyotes cry...
Texas Jack Omohundro, your name rides the wind,
In the songs of the west, your story won’t end.
A hero, a legend, forever you’ll be,
Texas Jack Omohundro, ridin' wild and free.
Texas Jack riding high over prairies and plains
With his gun at his side and fire in his veins
Out where legends remain and they never turn back
Is the cowboy they call Texas Jack
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