As I walked out in the streets of Laredo As I walked out in Laredo one day I spied a young cowboy wrapped all in white linen Wrapped in white linen as cold as the clay Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly Sing the dead march as you carry me along Take me to the valley then lay the sod o'er me I'm a young cowboy and know I've done wrong I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy These words he did say as I boldly walked by Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story Got shot in the breast and know I must die Go fetch me some water a cool cup of water To cool my parched lips then the poor cowboy said Before I returned his spirit had left him Had gone to his maker the cowboy was dead Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly Sing the dead march as you carry me along Take me to the valley then lay the sod o'er me I'm a young cowboy and know I've done wrong