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 

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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 

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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 

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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 

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