As I walked out in the streets of Laredo as I walked out in Laredo one day   I saw a young cowboy all dressed in white linen   Dressed in white linen as cold as the clay   So beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly   Play the dead march as you carry me along   Take me to the green valley they'll lay the sod o'er me   For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong      Once in a saddle I used to go dashing once in a saddle I used to go gay   First to the courthouse and lay down the roses   But I'm shot in the breast and I'm dyin' today   Bring sixteen tall cowboys to carry my casket ten pretty women to sing me a song   Take me to the green valley they'll lay the sod o'er me   For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong   Please beat the drum slowly...