D
Bm
The night was clear, and the
moon was yellow,
G A D - A
and the leaves came tumbling down.
D D7 G
1. I was standing on the corner, when I heard my bulldog bark,
D
A D - A
he was barkin'
at the two men who were gamblin' in the dark.
D D7 G
It was Stagger Lee and Billy,
two men who gambled late,
D
A D - A
Stagger Lee threw seven, Billy swore that he threw eight.
D D7 G
2. Stagger Lee told Billy, "I can't let you go with that",
D
A D - A
you have won all my money and
my brand new Stetson hat".
D D7 G
Stagger Lee went home and he
got his forty-four,
D
A D
- A
said, "I'm goin' to the barroom just to pay that debt I owe!"
D D7
3. Stagger Lee went to the barroom,
G
and he stood across the barroom door.
D A D - A
He said, "Nobody move!"
and he pulled his forty-four.
D D7 G
“Stagger Lee”, said Billy”,
oh, please don’t take my life;
D A D
- A
I got three little children
and a very sickly wife.
D D7 G
Stagger Lee shot Billy, oh he shot that poor boy so bad,
D
A D -
A
till the bullet came through
Billy and it broke the bartender's glass.
+ instrumental = verse 3 …..
(capo 1st; midi = no capo in C - Am - F - G ...) (The Coasters)