[Verse 1]
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day
I spied a young cowboy wrapped up in white linen
Wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay

[Verse 2]
"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'm shot in the chest and I know I must die"

[Verse 3]
"It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing
It was once in the saddle I used to go gay
First to the dramhouse and then to the cardhouse
Got shot in the chest and I'm dying today"

[Chorus]
"Oh, beat the drum slowly play the fife lowly
Play the death 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 and I know I've done wrong"

[Verse 4]
"Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin
Get six pretty maidens to bear up my pall
Put bunches of roses all over my coffin
Put roses to deaden the clods as they fall"
[Verse 5]
"Then swing your ropes slowly and rattle your spurs lowly
And give a wild yell as you carry me along
And in the grave throw me and roll the sod o'er me
For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong"

[Verse 6]
"Go bring me some water, a cup of cold water
To cool my parched lips," the cowboy then said
Before I returned his soul had departed
And gone to the roundup, the cowpoke was dead

[Chorus]
We beat the drum slowly, we play the fife lowly
We bitterly weep as we carry him along
We take him to the green valley there lay the sod o'er him
Just a young cowboy that surely done wrong