As I was a-riding the streets of Laredo As I was a-riding Laredo one day I spied a poor cowboy, all wrapped in white linen Wrapped in white linen and as cold as the clay I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy These words he did say as I slowly rode by Come dismount beside me and hear my sad story Got shot in the breast and I know I must die Once in the saddle, I used to go dashing Once in the saddle, I rode on my way First down to Rosy's and then to the cardhouse I'm shot in the breast and I'm dying today" Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly Play the death march as they carry me along Take me to the green valley, lay the sod o'er me I'm a poor cowboy and I know I've done wrong Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin Six pretty ladies to bear up my pall Throw bunches of roses all over my casket Roses to deaden the dirt as it falls Please bring me a cup of that cool spring water To ease my parched lips, the cowboy then said But when I came back, his poor soul had left him He had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead Beat the drum slowly, play the fife lowly Play the death march as you carry me along Take me to the green valley, lay the sod o'er me For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong As I was a-riding the streets of Laredo As I was a-riding Laredo one day I spied a poor cowboy, all wrapped in white linen Wrapped in white linen, as cold as the clay