Johnny Cash- The Streets of Laredo.

[ErikaMiyavi]

Why am I barely realizing that the great Johnny Cash wrote a song about my hometown? It's surprising, considering Laredo is well... Laredo...

[BaxterX7]

I used to be a cowboy like you... then I took six to the chest.

[xCh34pShOtx]

wow....such a genius

[PeterWhistle]

To Sinsteel - It's from times before the invention of TV and other media. In those times people entertained themselves by singing, and singing often elaborate stories. That's for the song itself. And also, people back then behaved differently to each other (just like they do even today if something horrible happens). But nevertheless, the question was to the point, and the topic is basically pre-medieval, about the sadness that somebody as young and handsome has to leave this world prematurely.

[dumbtardface]

its good to hear a song thats not about bling bling and shit

[ThaPyngwyn]

7 cowboys don't know they've done wrong.

[SqueeNetworks]

Awesome

[1neekarose]

Great song -- sixth grade song class. I was starting to forget the lyrics .. cool i found this ,,,, :)

[OzzyHill]

Laredo Texas... don't go there

[OrlyI95]

@OzzyHill Its not even bad here its nuevo laredo our sister city across the border thats..............FUCK UP.............no but really its actually nice down here on the streets of laredo hahhahahahhhahaboobhahahhaahah­ha

[joybabyjoybaby]

My dad used to sing this song so beautifully when I was a little girl. Now my Daddy has died and I am looking for a version of the song to play with his pictorial memorandum. Only today do I see the roots of this, "Cowboys Lament" come from the area of Colorado where my dad spent his youth on the family cattle ranch.

[Eli3459]

@joybabyjoybaby might I suggest the marty robbins version its more fitting

[1039mustang]

"Please, not one word of the man who killed me, don't mention his name, and his name will pass on"--saw this written on the wall in one of my classes today; looked it up and found this song. Pleseant suprise :)

[Bossk333]

It's all about the songs he has about finding dying guys. This, Give my Love to Rose, etc.

[R4ul5k8]

@Photosareawesome really peaceful, quiet and beautiful, love this place, this song totally make proud being born in laredo

[ceb2633]

Love the song, love and miss the man in black. Great post. Thanks.

[grzybopodobny]

prawdziwy cowboy- prawdziwe country- KLASYKA!!!

[atfatw]

@Photosareawesome its a standard texas town just like them all of them no good to live there

[koldslaw]

Foolish q, -Laredo 4-real. Never Can Die.

[ThatGuy8145]

Whoever disliked this does not know what real country music or real music at all for that matter is.

[MistyKariAurora]

So strange hearing a song mentioning where I live for some reason lol happy about it though :)

[NietzschesFreund1]

Jack Daniel's, please.

[joelscopeland]

I cannot think of an artist who came close to Johnny's grasp of the traditional folk song. His husky voice and mournful tones in this, "Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie," "Long Black Veil," and countless others conferred the true spirit of The Old West and the pioneers who shaped America from their blood, sweat, and tears (by the way, the name of one of his finest albums.)

[ajperrin3]

Horseman, Pass By, anyone?

[SuperCatzmeow]

to me the defantvie version of this song

[TexasJeff137]

I will hope this song plays at my funeral.

[Sinsteel]

I love this song, and Johnny, but am I the only one who thinks the young cowboy makes rather extravagant and optimistic funeral requests of a complete stranger? lol

6 cowboys, 6 maidens, bunches of roses, a band to play, bury him in the green valley, then write a letter to my mother, then one to my sister, then ANOTHER to my girlfriend... I mean cmon...what's next? black walnut coffin lined with silk spun by a virgin? italian marble tombstone? any other requests? :P

[Sinsteel]

@Sinsteel and a partridge in a pear-tree!

[SongsOfLife1]

@Sinsteel lol ....that just made me fall of my chair laughin ;0)

[usaruss]

@Sinsteel Remember it is a song & words were chosen to sound good in a song. I didn't hear a request for a letter to the sister & girl friend. Besides, there may have been places where local people would participate in a funeral march of sorts. Roses may have grown wild in some places, or may have been a generic term for any flowers. Wild flowers grow in many places.The Green Valley may not have been far from the town and an easy walk. I would help in a funeral march if asked by b dying man.

[ElAmargator]

@Sinsteel

maybe because you are not from Laredo and ur not a cowboy. Maybe thats why you will never understand.

[cigankavolikaru]

youre a hoot, thats what you are

[spart230]

No one sings this like Cash, his voice drives me bananas!

[sentimentaloldme]

This song is from the Irish ballad "The Bard of Armagh"

[LaredoStreetMusic]

amazing song wish we had more ppl like this

[SouthernSnipingMedia]

@LaredoStreetMusic we'll never have another like him :(

[smellypiratesg]

effing gorgeous.

[janscronce]

such beauty. thank you for posting this. it was one of my daddy's favorites. i miss him terribly.

[sabbersolo]

Roberto Benigni tries to sing this in Night on Earth!

[eliot468]

this song sounds a lot like the unfortunate rake

[MrDanSanford]

"But please not one word of the man who had killed me. Mention his name and his name will pass on"

The public should make the press should follow this rule. Many less innocents would die for some derranged person wanting to go out with notority.

[usaruss]

Best version of this song I've ever heard. I never tire of it. His weak & tired voice is an asset to this song, goes right along with the story.

[F14ace]

This is what real country music is supposed to be like. Excellent.

[Kammerz10]

I want this played at my funeral (not a cowboy or girl), it's so beautiful and sad.

[jay726100]

"But please not one word of the man who had killed me. Don't mention his name and his name will pass on."

See? Even Johnny Cash told people NOT to SNITCH in his music. He was one of the real ones, for sure. Someone's business is their own goddamn business.

My 2cents.

[floridianWill]

@tarmghissinanaa thankyou

[tarmghissinanaa]

@jay726100 First of all, this is a traditional elegiac - the Cowboy lament - Johnny didn't write it. Secondly, the song doesn't say not to snitch, it says not to honour a murderer by giving him power or notoriety. You know, the real cowards are the people like yourself who propagate the lie that it is OK to prey on other people. Murder is wrong and withholding knowledge of it is as well. You reap what you sew and attitudes like yours is why our society is turning sour. Use you head son.

[floridianWill]

@jay726100 your retarded

[NietzschesFreund1]

Awesome song.

[paulagz1]

A country star, one of the first rock stars, and a gospel singer - the man did it all with class style and originality - they broke the mold after his perfection

-Paul A

[jorgezunigadiaz56gun]

great story, great song ,the soul of american nation i enjoy it

[alkantre]

ONE OF BEST SONGS OUT OF OLD WEST.

[KrisanaRavenholdt]

@alkantre My dad used to sing this to me when I was a kid.

[alkantre]

@KrisanaRavenholdt it's very interesting to hear this

[willfullyobscure]

I love Johnny cash but songs like this make me wish you could actually sing. brb, Burl Ives on this joint.

[leeperryismerry]

@willfullyobscure

You saying Johnny Cash can't sing or have I miss-understood?

[willfullyobscure]

@leeperryismerry more or less. he had his moments, but hitting a note and carrying a melody were not the man's forte. I'd class him as a bard, a musical reciter, a chanter; often musical, always soulful, but Burl Ives, he weren't

[leeperryismerry]

@willfullyobscure

The only good country Artist IMO!

[sbosco10]

my grandpa sings this to me

[endr117]

@sbosco10 mine does too. he played it at my uncle's funeral and the cowboy has always represented my uncle to me since then

[NietzschesFreund1]

Just amazing.

[royalchevalier]

Original man in black.

[itsallfubar]

In memory of my gentle giant Uncle David. Sleep well my friend x

[Moc870]

love this song ha only johnny can make a song a song, its off my fav album also WHEN THE MAN COMES AROUND that album is so good!

[richard39bucks]

i listend to the words this time,

good stuff RHCProcks92,

love it, reminds me of "not me" but maybe me (inaway but )

sum1 i have not yet heard about if ya k'no wottta i meen b*** b***

[polarkreis201]

i love this inregular voiceline, that's what Cash stands for his voice

[thepissflap]

the absolute best version of this song...

my funeral song.

[buttcheesedawg]

It simply doesn't get any better than this

[jethyy]

has he ever made a bad song >.>

[LaredoMike]

Planning on playing this as I enter the Laredo city limits for my summer vacation!

[t3gh]

repping laredo texas

[vivascargill]

I have said this but I wish Merle would sing this--1)it would be ceatiful 2) it would honor Johnny Cash whom Merle loved so much

[Mihon54]

Johny Cash, Jim Reeves and Marty Robbins ... welcome in Laredo in the heaven. R.I.P.

[arkedysvidrigailov]

If you are shot in the breast, why are you talking to me for 3 minutes? ;[

[Jigaboo123456]

I'd love to hear Raul Malo singing this, he'd nail it. Prefer Marty Robins to this.

[greendodobean]

I love johnny but sorry Marty really does it better. RIP Johnny

[SCOTCHSOLACE]

Johnny Cash is one of a kind - and the best kind at that. Rest in Peace Johnny - your spirit and your music will never die.

[usaruss]

I never tire of hearing this song, especially this version. He's the only one I ever heard do it this way. RIP Johnny Cash; you were one of a kind.

[bacondave12]

my mother used to sing this to me as a lullaby she had to reassure me it was jus a song no wonder i love johnny cash's music i figure lol

[senordavidamor]

my pops used to sing me this song to put me to bed

[SpaceNTime77]

I'd wish Johnny Cash would have been around to sing about "Laredo Fights" haha or at least my Parody I did of it.

[ChrisStopHer01]

go Laredo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[roberto2]

i was born in laredo!!! R.I.P. johnny cash and happy bday im drinking for u tonight!

[Ozzfan129]

I live in Laredo TX!!! x)

[SpaceNTime77]

SAme.

[pablo4]

@Ozzfan129 I got family in Laredo, go by there all the time

[AnABaumgartner]

I have heard another version of this song...Not nearly as good as this one....You can hear the passion in his voice as he sings this song. Johnny Cash was one of the best singers I believe.  To this day he is still the best...As George Jones once said....Who's gonna fill their shoes?...So true for Johnny Cash

[vivascargill]

this may be be the best song ever recorded--I've heard it originated in Ireland anyone know?

[lazybones2000]

@vivascargill - Actually, it originated in England, not Ireland, as "The Unfortunate Rake". It was about a sailor who's dying from an std he got from a prostitute. I think Wiki has the lyrics if you're interested.

[vivascargill]

@lazybones quite right I checked after I posted--found the lyrics I knew it was not American in origin --many thanks!

[Jazzman256]

watch this man he covers the same song beautifully and he deserves to be acknowledged for it by more than 5000 people so please watch his video and give him a good review thank you very much and R I P johnny cash

[franklindavid]

He sings this song like he hated to sing it.

[ApatheticCannibal]

I gotta play this song for guitar class, this version is way better than the one we gotta do =P

[allybam1690]

great stuff nuff said

[GreenGreenGrasOfHome]

Best version ever. On deathbed you show all musicians on earth how to tell a story. His final western story telling song. No one does it better. It's not possible.

[inuyashauca]

gracias for this

[JessicaLouF]

Ledgend

[SharpsShootist]

Rest in peace.

We all miss ya.

There was, and there will be only one "man in black".

[gerrythetruth]

salute cheers

[SpaceNTime77]

i Live in a Town named Laredo.

[gerrythetruth]

R.I.P

[jennyamelie]

"It was once in the saddle I used to go riding..."

That line is especially poignant for me, as I remember a much younger Johnny Cash.

Wonderful rendition of this classic song.

Thanks for posting it!

[schwaldf]

There's no voice better than Johnny's Cash's to match a traditional song like this. This is what he did best.

[ixigixi]

that's a dangerous thing to say to a Johnny Cash fan kid

[4799711]

there never will be another . He was a MAN.

God bless him

Bill

Belgium

[gerrythetruth]

here here salute

[thepissflap]

tremendous.

[vivascargill]

I wish he had done it with merle

[ThePhillip56]

This is Johnny's old Version xD

[Danman1971]

great version! You can hear the pain in his voice

[nnealley]

I like Johnny's old version of this song better....

[Labaron26]

Johnny's voice sounds a little weak...This must have been recorded not too long before he died....However, it's still Johnny Cash and a wonderful rendition.....

[Bortherhood]

This tune was recorded in 2002. From the album American Recordings IV: (The man comes around)

[DaFlipSiders]

I live in Laredo, Tx. Nuevo Laredo Is just across the bridge in mexico.

[johna166]

This is the ONLY version I have heard with ALL of the lyrics. Oh by the way "chucktone11", that's Neuvo Laredo, Texas.

Laredo is in Mexico.

[laslos3]

you got it backwards... Laredo is in texas. Nuevo Laredo is just across the border in Mexico.

I knew it to be fact but. Wiki: Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas

[thelittlered1]

fantastic, the man is a legend

[gisorec]

Yo buscaba esta canción porque aparece como un motivo importante en un libro de Javier Marías: Tu rostro mañana vol. 2 Baile y Sueño.

Y no sabía como sonaba, pero me lo imaginaba. Después de oírla la novela todavía me sabe mejor.

[pedroantonio]

Yo acabo de empezar el volumen uno, pero ya conocía esta canción de antes. ¡Ahora tengo curiosidad en saber para que la usa Marías!. Pero no lo digas si lees esto :P

[chucktone11]

LAREDO TEXAS ROKS!!!!!!

[MakeLoveNotWar617]

The St. James Infirmary Blues

[catoutofhell]

It does sound like Johnny's working pretty hard. Personally, I prefer the voice of Jim Reeves singing it, but I like the lyrics of this one.

[jhill2704]

I love this song and cd-''the man comes around''-get the ''unearthed''box set folks

[Xxsnip3rxX]

hellz yeah im from laredo!!!

[tuktukskagal]

thanx for this canuck...this man is a LEGEND.

[MorganScorpion]

This sounds a lot like "When I was on Horseback", an Irish folk song. A more recent adaptation perhaps?

[sensei48]

It's a direct descendant of the Irish "Bard of Armagh" (almost identical tune) through the Anglo-American "St. James Infirmary."

[MorganScorpion]

Weird connection that, because the other song I was looking for that day was "St James Infirmary" - and I didn't notice the similarity.

Now I must find a copy of "Bard of Armagh" - thankyou for the information.

[1993truls]

i was just wondering, is this part 2 of Johnny cash - dont bring your guns to town, son.`??

[southernspectre]

how many of you people are actual Cash fans and didnt just jump on the bandwagon when he died...Just wondering. I know it became popular to wear Cash shirts after he died for some reason. Anyways as great as the man was I think Mary Robbins is the best singer of this song. Just my opinion.

[xINTENCITYx]

Johnny Cash is the one artist every single member of my family likes. From grandma and granpa all the way to me. i am still amazed he had a number 1 record after he passed. He will forever be a legend and hero to many of us.

[saaaahm]

this sounds like it is a version of an irish folk song called the unfortunate rake. Johnny Cash is my hero

[jws54]

well done, I needed to hear it sung this way, after wtching "THE SHOOTIST"

[RodeoCowboys]

as much as i like johnny cashes music, i have to recomend listeing to this same song by marty robins. him singing this song gives it more justice, just listen then put comments on.

[extreme696]

LAREDO AND NUEVO LAREDO RULEZ!!!!!!

[ratchclank1]

WOOOOOOTTTTT!!!!!!!!!

[Runner354matt]

fuck yeah

[BetoG07]

fuck yeah I'm from laredo!!!!

Johnny Cash is Awesome!!!

[drsprudel]

i feel so depressed when i listen to this so i cherr myself up by listening to ring of fire recorded in 1955 when johnny was young it makes me feel better

RIP JOHNNY

[adrienne1320]

Laredo, is in Texas, bordertown with Mexico. MY HOMETOWN!!!!! Right now I'm in Florida because of school, I miss Laredo :-(!! Those of you who know and have seen Laredo, may as why, but, IT'S STILL HOME!!! Laredo, I'll be home in about a month!!!!!!

[mute754]

wow nice

[HenryFonda1988]

thanks for your music

[drsprudel]

did johnny write this?

[thepissflap]

nah man, its an old cowboy song.. best version though

[lisababy85]

I think Marty Robbins actually did.

[OBYSSTIMEISUP]

laredo is in texas

[newkindofbreed]

where is laredo?

[landon5654]

johnny cash was a really good person, I am happy to be given the chance to hear his music of our lord

[pirateofthecarabiner]

It is also known as "The Cowboys Lament". It is meant to sound like an aging gunfighter. Johnny cash did it perfectly...

[jupiterandsaturn175]

beat the drum slowly,and play the pipe lowley,nine beatiful maidens to sing me a song. six hard drinking gamblers to carry my coffin,i am a young cowboy and i know ive done wrong.

[eminem594]

i didnt evan know he went to laredo

[pachunk]

oh my goodness. he didn't write the song, you genius. It's a traditional folk song.

[richard47396]

I miss this dude,He's up in heaven with john wayne,marty robbins,gary cooper,johnny horton,jim reeves,gene autry,and a lot of other first class dudes! R.I.P.

[proclaimer989]

i miss laredo,but if you've been there you might think im crazy, but i do

[tello345]

johnny cash is badass is laredo,tamaulipas

[kyuss4me]

Remember this song from the old movie "Bang the drum slowly", it always makes me cry when I hear it. Johnny does a great job!

[sjokolade147]

i know i have doon wrong!

[shire7971]

yes he died of cancer, so did his wife acouple of months befor he did

[gsibbery]

He died from complications from Diabetes. His wife died of heart valve problems.

[BrentwoodPl]

Didn't he also have Parkinsons'???

We watched Parkinsons claim once vibrant mother .....until it finally killed her

My condolences to Johnny's family.....

[sjokolade147]

is johnny cash dead?

[antman1cb]

i wonder which laredo he is talking about, is it laredo texas

[bootes33]

I last sang this as a 10 year old at school- i just played it on flute to my little boy and thought id check it out on youtube so thanks for this - i found it a bit odd and sad as a kid but it is sad and lovely to me now - the recording is fine - older people have great voices just as anyone and its poignant as its cash in is autumn years

[moonhowlerbear]

your an idiot. Johnny Cash is a Honor to America. go listen to your Brittney Spears and cry under your sheets.

[Dhbrydon]

Go, listen to Marty Robbbins sing this and then tell me its good,your taste is not in your mouth .

[raylavere]

go to hell

[xpur304]

Perfect funeral song, quite humbling.

[Zadrii]

this song is so sad, and it is made even sadder because johnny cash sounds so old.

[rbenavides05]

I LOVE THIS SONG! :)

[thechaingang1998]

i hate this song