Stagger Lee

The night was clear

And the moon was yellow

And the leaves came tumbling down

I was standing on the corner

When I heard my bulldog 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 an eight

Stagger Lee, he told Billy,

"I can't let you go with that!

You have won all my money

And my brand new Stetson hat!"

Stagger Lee started off

Goin' down that railroad track

He said "I can't get you Billy

But don't be here when I come back"

So Stagger Lee, he went home

And he got his Forty-Four

He said "I'm goin' to the barroom

Just to pay that debt I owe"

Stagger Lee went to the barroom

And he stood across the barroom floor

He said: "Nobody move!"

And he pulled his Forty-Four

"Stagger Lee!" cried Billy,

"Oh, please don't take my life!

I got three little children

And a pregnant wife!"

Stagger Lee shot Billy,

Oh he shot that poor boy so bad

Tihat the bullet came through Billy

And it broke the bartender's glass