This particular corrido derives from a factual story that uses several forms of other
folkloric styles to convey its message. The brother for whom Cortez avenges for is seen
as the anti-hero, which is clever and mischievous, very common in Mexican folklore
referred to as the coyote type.  The corrido also seems to follow a Robin Hood like
path, because Cortez continuously gets away from all of the Rangers, and was seen as a
lovable outlaw, not harming the innocent and only doing what he needs to
survive. The corrido also draws from Scottish folktales, and Christian and
Jewish parables.  Though the corrido is an exaggeration of the pursuit of Gregorio Cortez,
Americo Paredes states that the legend is comprised of three ingredients, straight fact,
exaggerated fiction, and pure folklore. The facts say that Cortez was a good shot, a
great rider, and an excellent man of nerve, ingenuity, and endurance.   Fiction
plays a part when the number of sheriffs is mentioned, Cortez only killed two sheriffs,
but legend has it that he killed many more.  And the pure legendary part is the passage
about Cortez's brother, Roman.  Legend says that Roman made a slick trade with a gringo,
trading his lame sorrel for the gringo's horse.  This legend has no validity, the only
trace of truth is that the confrontation did come out of a horse trade, but Gregorio
Cortez not his brother made the trade with a man named Villarreal, and the sheriff came to
investigate the trade, and wound up shooting Roman, and getting shot by Cortez.  No
matter what parts of this corrido is true, it has continued to make Gregorio Cortez a
folk hero.  He is an emblem of the borderlands, one that will live on for generations to
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