The night was clear and the moon was yellow And the leaves came tumbling down I was standing on the corner When I heard my bulldog bark He was barking up at the two men Who were gambling 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 Stagger lee shot billy Boy, he shot that poor boy so bad That the bullet came thru billy And went right thru the bartender's glass While I was standing on the corner When I heard my bulldog bark He was barking up at the two men Who were gambling in the dark Go stagger lee, go stagger lee Go stagger lee, go stagger lee Well, he was barking up at the two men Who were gambling in the dark