The Streets Of Laredo

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a dear cowboy, wrapped up in white linen
Wrapped up in white linen and 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'm shot in the breast, and I know I must die."

"It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing
Once in the saddle I used to go gay
First to the dram-house and then to the card-house
Got shot in the breast, and I must die today."

"Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
And play the death 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."

"Go bring me a cup, a cup of cold water
To cool my parched lips", the cowboy then said
But before I returned, his soul had departed
And gone to the roundup – the cowboy was dead

We beat the drum slowly and played the fife lowly
And bitterly wept as we bore him along
For we loved our comrade, so brave, young and handsome
We all loved our comrade, although he'd done wrong