As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a young cowboy wrapped up in white linen
Wrapped 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 step by
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
I'm shot in the breast and I know I must die
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the Fife lowly
Play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the valley and lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
Once in the saddle I used to go dashing
Once in the saddle I used to go gay
First to the drem-house and then to the card-house
Got shot in the breast and I'm dying today
Go bring me some water, a cool cup of water
To cool my parched lips, the young cowboy said
And before I returned his spirit had left him
And gone to his maker the cowboy was dead
We beat the drum slowly and play the Fife lowly
Bitterly wept as we bore him along
We all loved our comrade, so brave, young and handsome
We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong