Tom: C
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The night was dark and the moon was yellow
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And the leaves came tumblin' down
[Verse 1]
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I was standin' on the corner when I heard my bull dog bark
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He was barkin' at the two men who was gamblin' in the dark
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It was Stagger Lee and Billy, two men who gambled late
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Stagger Lee threw a seven, Billy swore that he threw eight
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'Oh now, Stagger Lee' cried Billy 'I can't let you go with that'
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'You have won all my money and my brand-new Stetson hat'
C F
Oh now, Stagger Lee went home, he got afraid his .44
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He said 'I'm goin' to the ballroom just to pay that debt I owe'
[Instrumental]
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[Verse 2]
C F
Oh now, Stagger Lee went to the ballroom and he stood behind the door
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He said 'Nobody moves' and he pulled his .44
C F
'Yeah now, Stagger Lee' cried Billy 'oh, please, don't take my life'
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'I've got three little children and a very sickly wife'
C F
Yeah now, Stagger Lee shot Billy and you know he shot that poor boy so bad
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That a bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender's bar
[Outro]
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