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
Wrapped up in whit4e linen as cold as the clay


Oh beat the drum slowly, and play the fife lowly
Play me the death 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, 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 was 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 that knows he's done wrong"


"It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing
It was once in the saddle I used to be gay
First to the dram-nouse, and then to the cardhouse
Got shot in the breast and I'm dying today"


Go gather around you a croed of young cowboys
And tell them the story of this my sad fate
Tell one and the other before tehy go further
To stop their wild roving before it's too late


"Go fetch me a cup, just a cup of cold water
To cool my parched lips", the poor cowboy said
Before I returned the spirit had left him
And gone to its maker, 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 hadsome
We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong



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