When Abilene was young and gay

And thunder storms filled up the days

The cattle roam outside the town

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

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

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

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

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

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

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun

Sleeping in the midday sun