Stagger Lee

It was early, early one mornin'
When I heard my bulldog bark
He was barkin' at the two men who was gamblin' in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy Lyon
Boys, and they gambled there very late
Every time Stag drew seven
Billy Lyon rolled a ninety-three

Stagger Lee lost all of his money
And he lost his brand new Cadillac
He said, "I believe you've been cheatin'
Billy, don't be here when I come back"

Stagger Lee went home
And he knocked upon his girly door
He said, "Wake up, little pretty baby
And hand me my forty-four"

You know, Bertha thought about a bad dream
For she was lookin' in Stagger Lee's eyes
She said, "Come on inside, my Billy
I can tell some poor man's gon' die"

Stagger Lee told Bertha
That he had lost his Cadillac
But he believed Billy was cheatin'
And she knew that it didn't go right

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 shot Billy Lyon
Oh, he shot the poor boy so fast
The bullet went through Billy
When it broke the bartender's glass

I heard Billy Lyon started to screamin'
Heard him say, "Stagger Lee, don't take my life
You know, I got two little children
And a poor, ill, old sickly wife"

Stagger Lee told Billy
"Yes, I know you got a cute boy and girl
But if you wanna meet your family
Billy, meet 'em in another world"

Thank you