Streets Of Laredo
Ballad of Redemption: A Cowboy's Final Journey
Lyrics
As I walked out in the streets of Laredo
The narrator was walking in the streets of Laredo.
As I walked out in Laredo one day
The narrator reiterates walking in Laredo on a specific day.
I saw a young cowboy, wrapped all in white linen
He noticed a young cowboy dressed in white linen.
Wrapped in white linen, as cold as the clay
The cowboy was wrapped in white linen like a burial shroud, indicating he was dead and cold as clay.
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Request to play a mournful tune slowly on the drum and fife.
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
As the deceased is carried, a Death March is sung, signifying a funeral procession.
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
Desire to be taken to the valley to be buried, acknowledging wrongdoings as a young cowboy.
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
Expresses awareness of committing mistakes or sins.
I see by your outfit that you are a cowboy
The narrator addresses the young cowboy, identifying him as such based on his attire.
These words he did say as I boldly walked by
The cowboy acknowledges the narrator's observation and proceeds to share his imminent demise.
Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story
The cowboy requests the narrator to sit and listen to his tragic tale.
Got shot in the breast and I know I must die
The cowboy reveals being shot in the chest and realizing his impending death.
Go fetch me some water, a cool cup of water
Request for water to quench his thirst and soothe his parched lips.
To cool my parched lips, then the poor cowboy said
The dying cowboy requests water but passes away before it's returned.
Before I returned, his spirit had left him
Before the water could be fetched, the cowboy dies.
Had gone to his Maker, the cowboy was dead
The cowboy's spirit has departed to meet his Maker; he is pronounced dead.
Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly
Repeat of the request to play a mournful tune during the funeral procession.
Sing the Death March as you carry me along
Reiteration of singing the Death March while carrying the deceased.
Take me to the valley, there lay the sod o'er me
Reaffirmation of the desire to be laid in the valley for burial despite acknowledging wrongdoing.
I'm a young cowboy, I know I've done wrong
Reiteration of the young cowboy's acknowledgment of his mistakes or sins.
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