The "Streets of Laredo" has virtually the same tune and plot to the much older british "Rake's Lament", "Young Sailor/Soldier cut down in his prime" group of songs. Just as the song was modified for the central character to be a soldier, Sailor, Highwayman etc. someone, presumably across the Atlantic changed it to a Cowboy - perhaps that was done by Dill.



I always understood that "Saint James Imfirmary" was a later adaption of "Laredo".