| 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) |