534. Streets of Laredo (Traditional American)

Also known as "The Cowboy's Lament" this is a well-known cowboy ballad where a dying cowboy tells his story to a live cowboy. Its origins are not clear, but it goes back to at least the 18th century as an Irish or British folk song called "The Unfortunate Rake," which tells a similar story, except that the hero's death is caused not by a bullet wound but by a sexually transmitted disease. Another Irish song, "The Bard of Armagh" uses the same tune.

The song has been recorded by Joan Baez, Jim Reeves, Roy Rogers, Marty Robbins, Rex Allen, Chet Atkins, Johnny Cash, Arlo Guthrie, Lew Dite and many country and western singers. There are a number of songs that use the same tune, such as "Only the Hangman" (or "Only the Heartaches.") It also seems to be part of the inspiration for Eric Bogle's song "No Man's Land" (also known as "The Green Fields of France.")

Category:

Music

Tags:

• folk
• song
• america
• cowboy
• only
• hangman
• johnny
• cash
• roy
• rogers
• chet
• atkins
• marty
• robbins

[Gamberist]

The melody is irish allright

[raymondcrooke]

@Gamberist Most good songs start as Irish tunes.

[bonniewayfarer]

I love this song. I see with my heart the young and handsome cowboy who dies and regrets his faults.

[raymondcrooke]

@bonniewayfarer One of the best cowboy songs I think.

[natureboy99]

very well done. I love this song it always makes me cry

[raymondcrooke]

@natureboy99 Glad you enjoyed it.

[Gamberist]

@raymondcrooke Of course

[dhgate2]

An old friend of mine passed away a couple of weeks ago. He and I

used to play this song 50 years ago. Sad to think that now he's sleeping "in that green valley".

[raymondcrooke]

@cgambler864 You're welcome. Sorry to hear about your father-in-law.

[cgambler864]

@raymondcrooke very nice......my father in law is in his final hours, though neither he nor i are cowboys (far from it) ive been thinking of this song these past few days........i humbly thank you