As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a young cowboy, all wrapped in white linen
All wrapped in white linen and cold as the clay.
I see by your outfit, that you are a cowboy.
The words he did say as I boldly stepped by
Come sit here beside me and hear my sad story
For I'm shot in the heart and I surely will die.
Well sir once in the saddle I used to go dashing,
Yes sir once in the saddle I was a young brave.
But today I got dressed up, but today I went gambling
And today I will die and be laid in my grave.
So send three sturdy cowboys to carry my coffin,
And let three lovely ladies come sing me a song.
And beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly,
For I'm a young cowboy who knows he done wrong.
My friend could you get me a taste of cool water?
For my lips they are parched and I'm terribly dry.
But before I could catch him that dipper of water
His spirit departed that cowboy he died.
So beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
And we wept in our grief as we carried him along
For we all loved that cowboy so brave and so handsome
Yes, we all loved that cowboy although he'd done wrong.