Staggerlee - Original - Tommy Roe

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.»

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)