Stack O'Lee (Traditional)

Lyrics

Could've been a rainy morning
Could've been a rainy night
Stagger Lee and Billy DeLyons
Had a big bad fight

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw seven
Billy swore that he threw eight

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee told Billy
"Now I can't go with that
You done took all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat"

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee went walkin
Down that railroad track
He said "Billy I can't get you livin
Don't be here when I get back"

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee went
Got his forty-four
Went down to the barroom
"Gonna payback that debt I owe"

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Billy DeLyons told Stagger Lee
"Now please don't take my life
I got three little children
And a darlin lovin wife"

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

"Well God'll take care of your children
I'll care of your wife
You took my Stetson hat
Now I'm bound to take your life"

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Well Stagger Lee shot Billy
Shot that poor boy so bad
That the bullets went through Billy
And broke the bartender's glass

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Boom boom boom boom boom boom
With that forty-four
Last time I spot Billy
He was layin on the barroom floor

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Well gentlemen of the jury
Now what do you think bout that
Stagger Lee he killed Billy DeLyons
Got a brand new Stetson hat

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Standing on the gallows
Stagger Lee did cuss
Judge said "Better kill him boys
Before he kills some of us"

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Standing on the gallows
With his head held way up high
At twelve o'clock they killed him
They was glad to see him die

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee

Could've been a rainy morning
Could've been a rainy night
Stagger Lee and Billy DeLyons
They got in an awful fight

He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee
He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee
He was a bad man
Cruel ol Stagger Lee