Stagger Lee and Billy Lyon, they was gamblin' in the dark
Stagger Lee told Billy, Billy Lyon let's take a walkStagger Lee won Billy Lyon's money, and he took Billy Lyon's stetson hat
Billy Lion said Stagger Lee, lord why do you do me like thatNow Billy Lyon begged Stagger Lee, said please give me back my hat
Cause you know you won my money, please don't take my hatNow Billy Lyon said to Stagger Lee, said please please don't take my life
I got two little children and a poor little homeless wifeBilly Lyon said to Stagger Lee, would you do your friend like that
well you won all my money, and you took my stetson hatStagger Lee shot Billy Lyon, and he fell down on his knees
he said Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy if you pleaseStagger Lee run to the corner, and he look up and down
said I'd rather see you Billy, six feet in the groundNow the people start to weepin', and some of them begin to moan
Everybody was worried 'bout poor Billy Lyon was goneTeena teena na, teena na ni na
Teena na na, teena ni na ni naSay I want Louis Armstrong and his band
To play the blues as they lay my body down
I want ten thousand women to be at my buryin' ground