The Streets of Laredo


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
All 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 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. Today I went gambling.
And today I will die and be laid in my grave.

"So send six sturdy cowboys to carry my coffin,
And let six lovely ladies come sing me a song.
And beat the drum slowly. And play the fife lowly.
For I'm a young cowboy what knows he done wrong.

"My friend, could you get me a taste of cool water?
For my lips they are parched and I'm terrible dry."
But before I could fetch him that dipper of water,
His spirit departed. That cowboy, he died.

So we beat the drum slowly and played 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 loved that young cowboy, although he done wrong.