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