The night was dark and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumblin' down

1 2 3 4, 1

I was standin' on the corner when I heard my bull dog bark
He was barkin' at the two men who was 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

‘Oh now, Stagger Lee’ - cried Billy - ‘I can't let you go with that’
‘You have won all my money and my brand-new Stetson hat’
Oh now, Stagger Lee went home, he got afraid his .44
He said : ‘I'm goin' to the ballroom just to pay that debt I owe’

Go now, go

Oh now, Stagger Lee went to the ballroom and he stood behind the door
He said : ‘Nobody moves’ - and he pulled his .44
‘Yeah now, Stagger Lee’ - cried Billy - ‘oh, please, don't take my life’
‘I've got three little children and a very sickly wife’

Yeah now, Stagger Lee he shot Billy, yeah, you know, he shot that poor boy so bad
That a bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender's bar

(Go, Stagger Lee)
(Go, Stagger Lee)