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...