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 barking at the two men who were gambling in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw 7
Billy swore that he threw 8
Stagger Lee told 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
Said, I'm goin' to the barroom
Just to pay that debt I owe
Go Stagger Lee
[Instrumental Interlude
Stagger Lee went to the barroom
And he stood across the barroom door
He said, nobody move
And he pulled his 44
Stagger Lee, cried Billy
Oh, please don't take my life
I've got three little children
And a very sickly wife
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad
Till the bullet came through Billy
And it broke the bartender's glass