Stagger Lee (1959)    (video)

 

            D               A                     G             D

    The night was clear, and the moon was yellow,

                 Em                 A             D

    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 started off goin' down that railroad track,

                       D                                          A                                 D   - A

    He said, "I can't get you, Billy, but don't be here when I come back."

 

 

3.  D - D7 - G    - D - A - D - A

 

                    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

4. 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

    And Billy, he cried “Stag, oh Stag, 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.

 

+ D - D7 - G    - D - A - D - A ...

 

(orig. = capo 1st; midi = no capo in C)      (Lloyd Price)