[Verse 1]
Early one morning at the St. James Infirmary
Early one morning in the month of May
I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen
All wrapped in white linen, and as cold as the clay

[Verse 2]
Come around, children, come and hear my sad story
Come 'round, children, come and hear my sad tale
My poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor, rundown cowboy and Hell is my home

[Verse 3]
Get me sixteen pretty maidens, come and carry my coffin
Get me sixteen pretty maidens, come and carry me home
For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor, rundown cowboy and Hell is my home

[Verse 4]
Call on the doctor, come and heal up my body
Call on the preacher, come and heal up my soul
And tell them to bring some of them sweet-smelling lilies
So I won't have to smell me as they carry me along

[Outro]
I'm a poor, rundown cowboy who knows he done wrong