| 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 bull dog bark
|
| He was barkin' at the two men
|
| Who were gamblin' in the dark
|
| It was Stagger Lee and Billy
|
| Two men who gambled late
|
| Stagger lee threw a seven
|
| Billy swore that he threw eight
|
| «Stagger Lee,» said Billy
|
| «I can’t let you go with that
|
| «You have won all my money
|
| «And my brand-new Stetson hat.»
|
| Stagger Lee went home
|
| And he got his .44
|
| He said, «I'm goin' to the ballroom
|
| «Just to pay that debt I owe.»
|
| Go, Stagger Lee
|
| Stagger Lee went to the ballroom
|
| And he strolled across the ballroom floor
|
| He said «You did me wrong, Billy.»
|
| And he pulled his .44
|
| «Stagger Lee,» said Billy
|
| «Oh, please don’t take my life!
|
| «I've got three hungry children
|
| «And a very sickly wife.»
|
| Stagger Lee shot Billy
|
| Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard
|
| That a bullet went through Billy
|
| And broke the bartender’s bar
|
| Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee!
|
| Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee!
|
| (to fade) |