The Cowboy's Lament by Burl Ives

The Cowboy's Lament

by Burl Ives

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo

As I walked out in Laredo one day

I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen

Wrapped 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 walked by

Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story

I'm shot in the breast and I know I must die

It was once in the saddle I used to go dashing

Once in the saddle I used to go gay

First down to Rosie's and then to the card house

Got shot in the breast and I'm dying today

Get sixteen gamblers to carry my coffin

Get six jolly cowboys to sing me a song

Take me to the graveyard and lay the sod o'er me

For I'm a young cowboy and know I've done wrong

Get six jolly cowboys to carry my coffin

Get six pretty maidens to sing me a song

Take me to the valley and lay the sod o'er me

For I'm a young cowboy, and know I've done wrong

Oh beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly

Play the Dead March as they carry me along

Put bunches of roses all over my coffin

Put roses to deaden the clods as they fall

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo

As I walked out in Laredo one day

I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen

Wrapped in white linen as cold as the clay