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)
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)
