[Verse 1]
On a winter night in Webb County, Texas
On the north bank of the mighty Rio Grande
I was watching the jungle fires a-burnin'
Across the border of a not-so-distant land

[Verse 2]
And the echoes of the church bells that were swingin'
Could be heard from Guadalupe Market Square
There was a girl down there in the south side of the river
She had feathers tied into her long black hair

[Chorus]
Said‚ if I was I was white-crowned sparrow
I would float upon the southern skies of blue
But I'm stuck inside the wheels of Laredo
Wishing I was rolling back to you
(Wish I was rolling)

[Verse 3]
I put on my favorite jacket for Jamboozie
I painted up my eyes and wore my beads
There was a band playing "To God Be the Glory"
There were people dancing all around the streets

[Verse 4]
There were barrels on the sidewalk that were burning
And a fortune-teller readin' people's hands
And I swear I heard those church bells ringing
Across the border in a not-so-distant land
[Chorus]
Singing‚ if I was white-crowned sparrow
I would float upon the southern skies of blue
But I'm stuck inside the wheels of Laredo
Wishing I was rolling back to you

[Instrumental]
(Back to you)

[Chorus]
If I was white-crowned sparrow
I would float upon the southern skies of blue
But I'm stuck inside the wheels of Laredo
Wishing I was rolling back to you
Wishing I was rolling back to you