When Abilene was young and gay And thunder storms filled up the day The cattle roamed 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 lain across the plain By broken old men in torrid rains 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 all joined hands All joined in to help run this land Then soldiers came, long long ago Rode through the town and rode down those who were 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 In the wealth and pain of old Abilene Sleeping in the midday sun Sleeping in the midday sun Sleeping in the midday sun Sleeping in the midday sun