"Streets of Laredo" genre: Americana
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	This is the definitive version of this American folk classic.
	CD: Ordinary Hero   Label: stark realities Credits: Traditional - Arrangement and revised lyrics by Thom Stark
	Story Behind the Song "Streets of Laredo" is a true American folk song. It began life as a Scottish murder ballad, immigrated to the Appalachians with the first wave of settlers, and then headed for Texas during the Whiskey Rebellion. I always liked the tune, but I found the words confusing. So I rewrote them to strengthen the narrative line and replace some of the archaic language. It's a better song for that. My wife, Judy was kind enough to supply backup vocals and my friend Kurt Iversen plays the Spanish guitar you'll hear in the left channel. I sing the lead, and play the other acoustic guitar -- and everything else on the recording. I'd like to thank the kind folks at Horse Presence (www.horsepresence.com) for the horse sounds that bring us into and out of the song -- they help to make it a movie in your stere Lyrics D G D A As I walked out in the streets of Laredo, D G D A As I walked out in Laredo one day, D G D A I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen. D G A D All wrapped in white linen and 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 here beside me and hear my sad story, For I'm shot in the heart and I surely will die." "Well, sir, once in the saddle I used to go dashing. Yes, sir, once in the saddle I was a young brave. But today I got dressed up. Today I went gambling. And today I will die and be laid in my grave. "So send six sturdy cowboys to carry my coffin, And let six lovely ladies come sing me a song. And beat the drum slowly. And play the fife lowly. For I'm a young cowboy what knows he done wrong. "My friend, could you get me a taste of cool water? For my lips they are parched and I'm terrible dry." But before I could fetch him that dipper of water, His spirit departed. That cowboy, he died. So we beat the drum slowly and played the fife lowly. And we wept in our grief, as we carried him along. For we all loved that cowboy, so brave and so handsome. Yes, we loved that young cowboy, although he done wro

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