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 we'll all hold hands Yes, we'll join to help run the land Then soldiers once, long, long ago Rode through the town, rode 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 wealth and the pain of old Abilene They were sleeping in the midday sun Sleeping in the midday sun Sleeping in the midday sun Sleeping in the midday sun