Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
As I walked out in Laredo one day

I spied a young cowboy wrapped in white linen
Wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay
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
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die
Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Play the dead march as they carry me away

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
Twas once in the saddle I used to go dashing
Twas once in the saddle I used to go gay

First came the drinking and then the card playing
Got shot in the breast and I'm dying today
Get sixteen gamblers to carry my coffin
Get six pretty maidens to bear up my part

Put bunches of roses all over my coffin
Roses to deaden the sod as it falls
Beat the drum slowly...

Writer : OWENS, BUCK
Copyright : Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing