[Intro]
The night was clear and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down

[Verse 1]
I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark
He was barkin' at two men who was gamblin' in the dark, ah yeah
It was Stagger Lee and Billy, two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw seven, Billy swore that he threw eight, ah yeah
Stagger Lee (Stagger Lee) told Billy (Stagger Lee)
"Oh, you know I ain't goin' for that" (Stagger Lee)
"You done won all my money and my brand new Cadillac" (Stagger Lee)
A looka here, y'all (Stagger Lee)

[Bridge]
Now, Stagger Lee went home and he brought back a long forty-four
He said "I got to pay Billy a little debt I owe"
Listen, let me tell ya

[Verse 2]
Stagger Lee (Stagger Lee) went to the barroom (Stagger Lee)
And he stood on the barroom floor (Stagger Lee)
He said "Don't nobody move" and he pulled his forty-four (Stagger Lee)
Yes, he did, y'all (Stagger Lee)
"Stagger Lee" cried Billy, "Oh, please don't take my life
I got three little children and a very sickly wife," oh yeah
Stagger Lee (Stagger Lee) shot Billy (Stagger Lee)
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad (Stagger Lee)
That the bullet went through Billy, broke the bartender's glass
(Stagger Lee) Yes, he did, y'all (Stagger Lee)

[Outro]
Well, Billy's gone on home now
But one thing about it: it'll teach the rest of you gamblers a lesson
(Woo) Billy's gone on home (Stagger Lee, woo)
(Stagger Lee, woo) Left three children to weep and moan
(Stagger Lee, woo; Stagger Lee, woo)
He's gone on home, ah yeah (Stagger Lee, woo)
Gone on home (Stagger Lee, woo)
He can't shake, rattle and roll no more (Stagger Lee, woo)
'Cause he's gone on home