Stagger Lee

Police Officer, how can it be?
You can't arrest everybody but cruel Stagger Lee
Talkin' 'bout a bad man, ol' Stagger Lee

Billy DeLyon tol' Stagger Lee
"Please don't take my life
I got two little children an' a darlin' lovin' wife"
He tol' the bad man ol', Stagger Lee

"What I care about your children
Darlin' lovin' wife?
Ya done stole my fine Stetson
An' I'm bound to take your life"
Talkin' 'bout a bad man, ol' Stagger Lee

Boom-boom, boom-boom, went that .44
An' then I spied Billy, lyin' on the floor
Talkin' 'bout a bad man, Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee shot Billy
Shot that boy so bad
The bullet went through Billy
An' broke the bartender's lookin' glass
Ol' cruel Stagger Lee

Gentlemens of the jury
What you think of that?
Stagger Lee shot Billy
About a five dollar hat
You know it was a bad man
OI' cruel Stagger Lee

Standin' at the gallows
Had his head way up high
Twelve o' clock they killed him
Folks glad to see him die
Talkin' 'bout a bad man
Talkin' cruel Stagger Lee

With Stagger Lee shot Billy
He shot that boy so bad
The bullet went through Billy
An' broke the bartender's glass
Talkin' 'bout a bad man
Ol' cruel Stagger Lee

Talkin' 'bout a bad man
Ol' cruel Stagger Lee