Early one morning at the St. James Hospital
Early one morning morn in the month of May
When I looked through the window and a'spied a dear cowboy
A dear cowboy as cold as the clay
Set ye down by me and hear my sad story
Set ye down by me and sing me a song
For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor cowboy that knowed he done wrong
Send for that doctor to come n'heal up my body
And send for the preacher to come and pray for my soul
For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor cowboy and hell is my doom
Get sixteen pretty maidens to come and carry my coffin
Sixteen pretty maidens to come and sing me a song
And tell 'em to bring some o'them sweet smelling roses
So they can't smell me as they tote me along
Beat the drums slowly and play the fife lowly
Play the death march as ye carry me along
Throw bunches of lilies all over my coffin
Thare goes a poor cowboy that knowed he done wrong.