Streets of Laredo

Traditional cowboy ballad · pub. Lomax 1910 · public domain

Every phrase is the same 1–4 stroll parked on the 5⁷ — four half-cadences in a row, and only the last line is allowed to come home.

KeyCDbDEbEFF#GAbABbB3/4 · waltz picking

Verse 1

As DI walked Gout in the Dstreets of LaA7redo,

as DI walked Gout in LaDredo one A7day,

I Dspied a young Gcowboy all Dwrapped in white A7linen,

all Dwrapped in white Glinen as A7cold as the Dclay.

Verse 2

'I Dsee by your Goutfit that Dyou are a A7cowboy,'

these Dwords he did Gsay as I Dboldly walked A7by;

'come Dsit down beGside me and Dhear my sad A7story —

I'm Dshot in the Gbreast, and I A7know I must Ddie.'

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