Stagger Lee Lyrics - Tim O'brien

It was over a hundred years ago in eighteen sixty-one 

It was in the town of St. Louis that old Stagger Lee was born 

Stagger Lee was a gambler and everybody knew his name 

He made his living singing high low jack and a game 

It was in the month of December on a cold and rainy night 

Stagger Lee and Billy Bly got in an awful fight 

I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark 

Barking at the two men gambling there in the dark 

Chorus: 

He was a bad man, talk about a bad man 

Such a bad man, mean old Stagger Lee 

Stagger Lee and Billy two men who gambled late 

Stagger Lee threw seven and Billy swore he threw eight 

Stagger Lee told Billy I can't let you go with that 

You took all my money and my brand new Stetson hat 

Stagger Lee he turned around and headed down the railroad track 

Told Billy you better be gone from here by the time that I get back 

Stagger Lee he went on home and he loaded his fourty-four 

Said I'm going to the bar room to pay a debt I owe 

Chorus 

Stag went down to the bar room and then stood on the bar room floor 

And said nobody move and then he drew his blue steel fourty-four 

Billy cried oh Stag oh Stag oh please don't take my life 

I got two little children and a darling lovin' wife 

Stag said bless your children said goddamn your wife 

You took my magic Stetson now I'm gonna take your life 

Stagger Lee shot the bullet killed Billy oh so fast 

Went straight through the heart, then it broke that looking glass 

Chorus 

I never saw a sight before like the one when the smoke did clear 

Billy was lying in a pool of whiskey, diamonds, blood, and beer 

Stag had a magic Stetson but I guess it lost its power 

Cause they took him to the gallows to await his final hour 

Chorus 

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