Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee
(Harold Logan, Lloyd Prince)

Tid-Bettes: During a break between filming the concert scenes for The Rose while cameras were reloading, Bette broke into a few impromptu songs for the audience members.

The night was black
And the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down

I was standing on the corner
When I heard my bull dog bark
He was barking at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark

Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger lee threw a seven
Billy swore that he threw eight

Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee, said Billy
I can’t let you go with that
You have won all my money
And my brand-new Stetson hat

Stagger Lee went home
And he got his .44
He said, I’m going to the ballroom
Just to pay that debt I owe

Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee went to the ballroom
And he strolled across the ballroom floor
He said, you did me wrong, Billy
And he pulled his .44

Stagger Lee, said Billy
Oh, please don’t take my life
I’ve got three hungry children
And a very sickly wife

Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee

Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard
That a bullet went through Billy
And broke the bartender’s bar

Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee