As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a cowboy and he was dyin'
And as I approached, oh, I heard him say

"It was once in the saddle, I used to go roaming
Once in the saddle, I used to roamed far and wide
First to the card house and then to the dram house
Shot, oh I'm shot, and I know I must die

"So beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Play the dead march as you carry me along
Take me to the valley and lay the sod o'er me
I'm a young cowboy and I know I must die

"Get sixteen night ladies to sing in the twilight
Sixteen night ladies to kick in the gong
Get twenty-five ponies and run them along
For I like the horse flesh as well as my own

"Will you run in the races of the horses that win
Find the fine ladies and love them again
On the first step to heaven the trumpets begin
On the last step to heaven you know that you're in"