'The Streets Of Laredo' Celtic song?

Cafe Society
1

The Streets Of Laredo contains the lyrics ‘Beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly/Play the dead march as you carry me along’.

Was there a Celtic-sounding song with these lyrics? Possibly about WWI? Or am I conflating it with something else?

2

These lyrics are in No Man’s Land by Eric Bogle, aka Green Fields of France, about WWI.

3

Streets of Laredo is a variation of a traditional English folk tune called The Unfortunate Rake, which also spawned the above-mentioned Green Fields of France as well as St. James Infirmary.

Here’s a pretty good rendition of the original song.

4

That’s it. Thank you.

5

FWIW, my favorite recording of that song is the Dropkick Murphys version.

6

To my mind, the definitive version of “The Streets of Laredo”:

7

And that is the version I listen to.

I’m only going into the office once a month now, so I only get to listen to music once a month.

Thanks.

8

…well… I get to post a Deadwood clip.

Al Swearengen singing the song.