Cowboy`s Lament

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo As I walked out in Laredo one day I spied a poor cowboy wrapped up in white linen Wrapped up in white linen as cold as the clay Oh beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly Play the dead 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 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 am shot in the breast and I know I must die Let sixteen gamblers come handle my coffin Let sixteen cowboys come sing me a song Take me to the graveyard and lay the sod o'er me For I'm a poor cowboy and I know I've done wrong My friends and relations they live in the Nation They know not where their boy has gone He first came to Texas and hired to a ranchman Oh I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong 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 breast and I am dying today 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 sods as they fall Then swing your rope slowly and rattle your spurs lowly And give a wild whoop 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 Oh bury beside me my knife and sixshooter My spurs on my heel my rifle by my side And over my coffin put a bottle of brandy That the cowboys may drink as they carry me along Go bring me a cup 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 cowboy was dead We beat the drum slowly and played the fife lowly And bitterly wept as we bore him along For we all loved our comrade so brave young and handsome We all loved our comrade although he'd done wrong