When abilene was young and gay
And thunder storms filled up the days
The cattle roam outside the town
Sleeping in the midday sun x4
Then tracks were laid across the plain
By broken old men in torrid rain
The towns grew up, and the people were still
Sleeping in the midday sun x4
We all joined in
(and) we all joined hands
We all joined in
To help run this land
Then the soldiers came, long long ago
Rode through the town
And mowed down those
Sleeping in the midday sun x4
Gold came and went, quickly spent
And the people broke down
And often drowned
From the wealth and the pain
Of old abilene
Sleeping in the midday sun x8