Stagger Lee and Billy Lyons
were gambling in the dark.
Stagger Lee said to Billy:
'Billy Lyons, let's take a walk.'
Stagger Lee won Billy Lyons' money
and he took his coat and hat.
Billy Lyons said to Stagger Lee:
'Lord, why d'you gotta do me like that.'
Billy Lyons said to Stagger Lee:
'Please, don't you take my life.
I've got two little children
and a poor little homeless wife.'
Well Stagger Lee shot Billy Lyons
and he fell down to his knees.
Say 'Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy if you please.'
And Stagger Lee, he ran to the corner
and he looked up and down.
Said 'I'd rather see you Billy,
Billy Lyons six feet under the ground.'
Tinana...
Tinanana...
Tinanananana...
Tinananana...
Tinananana...
Well the people, they started weeping
and some of them began to moan.
Everybody worry,
poor little Billy Lyons was gone.
When I die,
I want the Copper Bottom Band
to play the blues
when they lay me down.
I want 10.000 women
at my burying ground.
Tinana...
Tinanana...
Tinanananana...
Tinanana...
Tinananananana...
Tinana... oh Tinana...
oh Tinanananana...
Tinanana...
Tinana...
Tinanana...
Tinanaaaaa...
