It was noon in the summer when the police shot him "Stagger Lee, reincarnate" is what the cops called him A trembling hand with big ideas, which k**ed his wife and her man Stagger Lee in the Flesh in Southern California He hit a rock going 90 in the dessert Had blowout and was forced to pull over He grabbed the Colt and put the barrel to his head In the midst of all the sirens from the cop cars He heard the quiet muffled beats from his wife's heart The last time she had kissed him when she loved him for real Yeah, now he knows what you shouldn't know It never starts, it never ends, no He thinks out loud "I've waited my whole damn life to turn my whole damn life around If this is it, well, they gotta fight I'm taking every last one of them f**ers down."
Stagger Lee quickly opens up his car door Sticks his left hand out waving in surrender He hides a smile and a d**h wish with a fully loaded gun Seven cops with their fingers on their triggers Sweaty palms, grinding teeth, foggy aviators Stagger Lee pulls the hammer back and dives into sun He hits the ground with a barrel roll He unloads the clip Three cops hit the ground The other four greet Stagger with his d**h I'm so thankful I'm so grateful You afforded me to be born again Another chance to make her my lover I'll make it right this time next life And since you shot me Since you k**ed me I'll haunt you in between And I'll possess your wife and kids I'll make it so you can't forget I'll be coming back for her again, in flesh