The (Bb)night was clear
and the (Gm)moon was yel low, and the (Cm)leaves came tum (F7)bling (F)down.
I was (F)stand ing
on the (Bb7)cor ner
when I (Eb7)heard my bull dog bark.
He was (Bb)bark ing at the two men who were (F7)gam bling in the (Bb)dark.
It was (F7)Stag ger Lee and (Bb7)Bil ly
two (Eb7)men who gam ble late.
Stag ger (Bb)Lee threw sev en, Bil ly (F7)swore that he threw (Bb)eight.
Stag ger (F)stand ing
on the (Bb7)cor ner
when I (Eb7)heard my bull dog bark.
He was (Bb)bark ing at the two men who were (F7)gam bling in the (Bb)dark.
It was (F7)Stag ger Lee
and (Bb7)Bil ly
two (Eb7)men who
gam ble late.
Stag ger (Bb)Lee threw sev en, Bil ly (F7)swore that
he threw (Bb)eight.
Stag ger (Bb)wife.”
Stag ger (F)Lee
shot (Bb7)Bil ly.
Oh, he (Eb7)shot that poor boy so bad,
’til the (Bb)bul let came through Bil ly, and it (F7)broke the bar
ten der’s (Bb)glass.
(Spoken:) Look (F7)out now.
(Bb)Go, Stag ger Lee.
(Bb7)Go, Stag ger Lee.
(Eb7)Go, Stag ger Lee.
Go, Stag ger Lee.
(Bb)Go, Stag ger Lee.
(F7)Go, Stag ger Lee.
(Bb)Go, Stag ger Lee.
Go.
This page shows “Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of Eb at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.