As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a young cowboy wrapped up in white linen
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 walked by
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die
Oh beat the drums slowly and play the fife lowly
Singy the death march as you carry me along
Take me to the valley there lay the sod over me
I'm a young cowboy and know I've done wrong
It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing
It was 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'm dying today
Go gather around you a group of young cowboys
Tell them the story of this my sad fate
Tell one and the other before they go further
To stop their wild roving before it's too late
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