D                        Bm
The night was clear, and the moon was yellow..
        G                        A7
And the leaves came tumblin' down...

[Verse 1] (fast, rock)
      D               D7
I was standin' on the corner,
       G7
When I heard my bulldog bark.
       D
He was barkin' at the two men
         A7              D     A7
Who were gamblin' in the dark.
       D               D7
It was Stagger Lee and Billy,
    G7
Two men who gambled late.
        D
Stagger Lee threw a seven,
      A7                  D     A7
Billy swore that he threw eight.

[Verse 2]
        D         D7
Stagger Lee, told Billy,
        G7
I can't let you go with that.
         D
You have won all my money,
       A7                D    A7
And my brand-new Stetson hat.
        D
Stagger Lee went home,
       G7
And he got his forty-four.
             D
He said, I'm goin' to the barroom
        A7              D
Just to pay that debt I owe.
 A7
(Go on, Stagger Lee.)

[Sax Solo]
| D D7 | G7  | D A7 | D A7 |

[Verse 3]
        D               D7
Stagger Lee went to the barroom,
       G7
And he stood across the barroom door.
             D                   A7           D   A7
He said, now nobody move, and he pulled his .44.
        D          D7
Stagger Lee, cried Billy,
    G7
Oh, please don't take my life!
      D
I got three little children,
      A7          D     A7
And a very sickly wife.

[Verse 4]
        D        D7
Stagger Lee shot Billy.
       G7
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad.
         D
Till the bullet came through Billy
       A7                    D  
And it broke the bartender's glass.
 A7
(Look out, Stag)

[Outro]
D                  D7
Go, Stagger Lee... go, Stagger Lee...
G7
Go, Stagger Lee... go, Stagger Lee... 
D                  A7
Go, Stagger Lee... go, Stagger Lee...
D                  A7
Go, Stagger Lee... go, Stagger Lee...