The night was clear,
And the moon was yellow,
And the leaves came tumblin’ down.
I was standin’ on the corner,
When I heard my bulldog bark.
And he was barkin’ up at two men
Who were gamblin’ in the dark.
It was Stagger Lee and Billy,
Two men who gambled late.
Stagger Lee threw seven;
Billy swore he threw an eight.
Stagger Lee told Billy,
“I can’t let you get away with that.
Well, you’ve won all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat.”
Stagger Lee ran home.
He went and got him his forty-four.
Said “I’m goin’ to the barroom
Just to pay that debt I owe.”
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Said, “I’m goin’ to the barroom
Just to pay that debt I owe.”
Stagger Lee went to the barroom.
Well, he stood across the barroom door.
Said, “Now, nobody move!”
And he pulled his forty-four.
“Stagger Lee,” cried Billy,
“Oh please, don’t you take my life!”
“I got me three little children
And a very sickly wife.”
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
“Got me three little children
And a very sickly wife.”
Stagger Lee shot Billy.
Well, he shot that poor boy so bad.
Then the bullet came through Billy
And went right through
The bartender’s glass.
Well, I was standing on the corner,
When I heard my bulldog bark.
And he was barkin’ up at two men
Who were gamblin’ in the dark.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Well, he was barkin’ up at two men
Who were gamblin’ in the dark.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Go, Stagger Lee.
Said, “I’m goin’ to the barroom
Just to pay that debt I owe.”