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

[Instrumental Interlude]

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've 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