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 seven, Billy swore that he threw eight



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 forty-four

Said ´I´m goin´ to the barroom just to pay that debt I owe´

Go Stagger Lee!



Stagger Lee went to the barroom and he stood across the barroom door

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 very sickly wife´

(Go Stagger Lee)



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

Look out Stagger Lee!

Writer : GARCIA, JERRY / HUNTER, ROBERT
Copyright : Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group