As I walked out in the streets of Laredo As I walked out in Laredo one day I spied a poor cowboy wrapped up 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 I was shot in the breast and I know I must die Oh beat the drum slowly and play the pipe lowly Play the dead 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 Oh fetch me a cup a cup of cold water To cool my hot 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 play the pipe lowly And bitterly wept as we bore him along For we all loved our comrade so brave young and handsome Well all loved our comrade although he done wrong