[Intro]
D G D
The night was clear, and the moon was yellow..
A7 D
And the leaves came tumblin' down...
[Verse 1]
(fast, rock.)
D D7
I was standin' on the corner,
G7
When I heard my bull dog bark.
D
He was barkin' at the two men
A7 D
Who were gamblin' in the dark.
D D7
It was Stagger Lee and Billy,
G7
Two men who gambled late.
D
Stagger lee threw a seven,
A7 D
Billy swore that he threw eight.
[Verse 2]
D D7
Stagger Lee, said Billy,
G7
I can't let you go with that.
D
You have won all my money,
A7 D
And my brand-new Stetson hat.
D
Stagger Lee went home,
G7
And he got his forty-four.
D
He said, I'm goin' to the barroom
A7 D
Just to pay that debt I owe.
A7
(Go, Stagger Lee.)
[Verse 3]
D D7
Stagger Lee went to the barroom,
G7
And he stood across the barroom door.
D A7 D
He said, Nobody move, and he pulled his .44.
D D7
Stagger Lee, cried Billy,
G7
Oh, please don't take my life!
D
I've got three little children,
A7 D
And a very sickly wife.
[Verse 4]
D D7
Stagger Lee shot Billy.
G7
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad..
D
That the bullet went through Billy
A7 D
And broke the bartender's glass.
A7
(Look out now.)
[Outro]
D D7 G7
Go, Stagger Lee..go, Stagger Lee..go, Stagger Lee..
D A7 D
Go, Stagger Lee..go, go...Fade.