Stagger Lee

It was over a hundred years ago in eighteen sixty-one

It was in the town of St. Louis that old Stagger Lee was born

Stagger Lee was a gambler and everybody knew his name

He made his living singing high low jack and a game

It was in the month of December on a cold and rainy night

Stagger Lee and Billy Bly got in an awful fight

I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark

Barking at the two men gambling there in the dark

R:

He was a bad man, talk about a bad man

Such a bad man, mean old Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee and Billy two men who gambled late

Stagger Lee threw seven and Billy swore he threw eight

Stagger Lee told Billy I can't let you go with that

You took all my money and my brand new Stetson hat

Stagger Lee he turned around and headed down the railroad track

Told Billy you better be gone from here by the time that I get back

Stagger Lee he went on home and he loaded his fourty-four

Said I'm going to the bar room to pay a debt I owe

R:

Stag went down to the bar room and then stood on the bar room floor

And said nobody move and then he drew his blue steel fourty-four

Billy cried oh Stag oh Stag oh please don't take my life

I got two little children and a darling lovin' wife

Stag said bless your children said goddamn your wife

You took my magic Stetson now I'm gonna take your life

Stagger Lee shot the bullet killed Billy oh so fast

Went straight through the heart, then it broke that looking glass

R:

I never saw a sight before like the one when the smoke did clear

Billy was lying in a pool of whiskey, diamonds, blood, and beer

Stag had a magic Stetson but I guess it lost its power

Cause they took him to the gallows to await his final hour

R: