Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly

I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong



As I walked out in the streets of Laredo

Ss I walked out in Laredo one day

I spied a young cowboy wrapped in white linen

Wrapped up 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 down beside me and hear my sad story

Got shot in the breast and I know I must die



Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly

Play the dead march as they carry me away

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



Twas once in the saddle I used to go dashing

Twas once in the saddle I used to go gay

First came the drinking and then the card playing

Got shot in the breast and I'm dying today



Get sixteen gamblers to carry my coffin

Get six pretty maidens to bear up my part

Put bunches of roses all over my coffin

Roses to deaden the sod as it falls



Beat the drum slowly...