The night was clear
And the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down

I was standin' on the corner
When I heard my bulldog 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 seven
Billy swore that he threw eight

Stagger Lee told Billy
I can't let you go with that
Cause you done won all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat

Stagger Lee went home
Got his forty-four
He said I'm goin' to the barroom
To pay that debt I owe
Oh yeah

Stagger Lee went to the barroom
And he stood crossways in the door
He said now don't nobody move
And he pulled his forty-four

Stagger Lee cried Billy
Oh please don't take my life
I've got three little children
And a very sickly wife

Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh he shot that poor boy so bad
The bullet went through Billy
And broke the bartender's glass