As I walked out on the streets of Laredo,
As I walked out on Laredo one day.
I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen.
All wrapped in white linen as cold as the clay.
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy.
These words he did say as I boldly stepped by.
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story,
I am shot in the breast and I know I must die.
It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing.
It was once in the saddle I used to go gay.
But I first took to drinkin' and then to card playin'.
Got shot in the breast and I am dying today.
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly.
Play the dead march as you carry me along.
Take me to the green valley, there lay the sod o'er me.
For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong.
Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin.
Get six pretty maidens to bear up my pall.
Put bunches of roses all over my coffin.
Put roses to deaden the sods as they fall.
Then swing your rope slowly and rattle your spurs lowly,
And give a wild whoop as you carry me along.
And in the grave throw me and roll the sod o'er me.
For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong.
Go bring me a cup, a cup of cold water,
To cool my parched lips, the cowboy then said.
Before I returned his soul had departed,
And gone to the round-up, the cowboy was dead.
We beat the drum slowly and played the fife lowly,
And bitterly wept as we bore him along.
For we all loved our comrade, so brave, young, and handsome
We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong