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 bulldog bark And he was barkin' up 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, he threw an eight Stagger Lee told Billy "I can't let you get away with that Well, you've won all my money And my brand new Stetson hat" Stagger Lee ran home Went and got him his 44 Said, "I'm going to the bar room Just to pay that debt that I owe" Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Said, "I'm going to the bar room Just to pay that debt that I owe" Stagger Lee went to the bar room Boy, he stood across the bar room doors Said, "Now, nobody move" And he pulled out his 44 Stagger Lee, cried Billy "Oh, please don't you take my life I got me three little children And a very sickly wife" Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Got me three little children And a very, very sickly wife Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Go Stagger Lee Stagger Lee shot Billy Boy, he shot that poor boy so bad Then the bullet came through Billy And went right through the bartenders gla** While I was standin' on the corner When I heard my bulldog bark And he was barkin' up at the two men Who were gamblin' in the dark, go Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Well, he was barkin' up at the two men Who were gamblin' in the dark Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Go Stagger Lee, go Stagger Lee Said, "I'm going to the bar room Just to pay that debt that I owe" Go baby, go Stagger Lee