Caught me on a rainy mornin'
Caught me on a rainy night
Oh, Stagger Lee, Billy de Lyons
Had a great big fight
Talkin' bout the bad man
Cruel Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee and Billy de Lyon
Two men who gambled late
Oh, Stagger Lee threw seven
Billy swore that he threw eight
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
Billy said to Stagger Lee
"Man, can't let you go like that
Done won all your money
And your brand new Stetson hat"
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
Billy said to Stagger Lee
"Man, please don't ya take my life
You know I got two lovely children
A very lovely wife"
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
"What I care 'bout your two little babies
Mind your darling, lovely wife
You done won my magic hat, man
You're bound to loose your life"
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Shot that boy so bad
That the bullets went through Billy
Through the bartender broken glass
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
If you're ever gone down to New Orleans
Back down to Lyon's club
Yeah, would ya be
Steppin' in Billy de Lyons blood
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
Orleans officers, how can it be?
You done 'rested everybody
'Cept cruel old Stagger Lee
Talkin' bout the bad man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
Go beyond a rainy mornin'
Go beyond a rainy night
Oh, Stagger Lee and Billy de Lyons
Had a great big fight
Know about the grab, man
Come in cruel Stagger Lee
