Traditional Mexican folk-songs, based on the Spanish décima verse and guitar. Corridos are a form of balladry, and can express tragedy, comedy, or historic themes. They often dealt with family disputes, unrequited love, and good men driven to desperate acts. An example is the well known corrido for Gregorio Cortés in turn-of-the-century South Texas who got into a gun-battle over a mistaken dispute about stolen horses. After a long manhunt Cortés was captured and ultimately freed on grounds of self-defense. Americo Paredes' book With His Pistol in His Hand describes many versions of the corridos written about the case.