Stag-O-Lee

It was early, early one morning
Boys, I heard my bulldog bark
He was barking at two men
Who was gambling in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy Lyon
Boys, they gambled on a very late
Every time Stagger Lee said to Billy
Lyon told him that he's a rake
Stagger Lee lost all of his money
Boys, then he lost his brand new Cadillac
He said, "I believe you've been cheating, Billy
Don't be here when I come back"
Stagger Lee went home
And he knocked upon his woman's door
He said, "Wake up, Lubertha, baby
And hand me my forty-four"
You know, Bertha jumped out of bed screaming
And she was looking dead in Stagger Lee's eyes
She said, "Come on inside, honey
I can see some poor man's going to die"
Then Stagger Lee told Bertha
That he had lost his Cadillac
But he believed Billy was cheating
Then she knew that he didn't go for that
Oh yeah

Stagger Lee went back on the corner
And he stood up in the barroom door
He said, "Don't nobody move
Because I got my forty-four"
Stagger Lee grabbed Billy Lyon
And he shot the poor boy so fast
The bullet went through Billy
But it broke the bartender's glass
Then Billy Lyon started to screaming
I heard him say, "Stagger Lee, don't take my life
You know, I got two little children
And a poor little old sickly wife"
Stagger Lee told Billy
"Yes, I know you got a cute boy and girl
But if you want to see your family, Billy
Meet them in another world"
Oh yeah