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The night was clear, and the moon was yellow |
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And the leaves came tumblin' down. . . |
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I was standin' on the corner |
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When i heard my bull dog bark. |
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He was barkin' at the two men |
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Who were gamblin' in the dark. |
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It was stagger lee and billy, |
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Two men who gambled late. |
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Stagger lee threw a seven, |
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Billy swore that he threw eight. |
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"stagger lee," said billy, |
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"i can't let you go with that. |
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"you have won all my money, |
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"and my brand-new stetson hat." |
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Stagger lee went home |
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And he got his .44. |
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He said, "i'm goin' to the ballroom |
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"just to pay that debt i owe." |
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(bridge) |
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Go, stagger lee |
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Stagger lee went to the ballroom |
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And he strolled across the ballroom floor. |
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He said "you did me wrong, billy." |
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And he pulled his .44. |
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"stagger lee," said billy, |
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"oh, please don't take my life! |
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"i've got three hungry children, |
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"and a very sickly wife." |
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Stagger lee shot billy |
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Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard |
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That a bullet went through billy |
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And broke the bartender's bar. |
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Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee! |
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Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee! |
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(to fade) |
