Stagger Lee and Billy Lyon, they was gamblin' in the dark

Stagger Lee told Billy, Billy Lyon let's take a walk



Stagger 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 that



Now Billy Lyon begged Stagger Lee, said please give me back my hat

Cause you know you won my money, please don't take my hat



Now Billy Lyon said to Stagger Lee, said please please don't take my life

I got two little children and a poor little homeless wife



Billy Lyon said to Stagger Lee, would you do your friend like that

well you won all my money, and you took my stetson hat



Stagger Lee shot Billy Lyon, and he fell down on his knees

he said Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy if you please



Stagger Lee run to the corner, and he look up and down

said I'd rather see you Billy, six feet in the ground



Now the people start to weepin', and some of them begin to moan

Everybody was worried 'bout poor Billy Lyon was gone



Teena teena na, teena na ni na

Teena na na, teena ni na ni na



Say 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