As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a poor cowboy wrapped up in white linen
Wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay
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
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
Let sixteen gamblers come handle my coffin
Let sixteen cowboys come sing me a song
Take me to the graveyard and lay the sod o'er me
For I'm a poor cowboy and I know I've done wrong
My friends and relations they live in the Nation
They know not where their boy has gone
He first came to Texas and hired to a ranchman
Oh I'm a young cowboy and I 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 dramhouse and then to the cardhouse
Got shot in the breast and I am dying today
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
Oh bury beside me my knife and sixshooter
My spurs on my heel my rifle by my side
And over my coffin put a bottle of brandy
That the cowboys may drink as they carry me along
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 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 all loved our comrade
so brave young and handsome
We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong