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.


(bridge)

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)