Police Officer, how can it be? You can 'rrest everybody but cruel Stagger Lee Talkin' 'bout a bad man, ol' Stagger Lee Billy DeLyon tol' Stagger Lee, Please don't take my life I got two little children an' a darlin' lovin' wife He tol' the bad man ol' Stagger Lee What I care about your children, Darlin' lovin' wife? Ya done stole my fine Stetson An' I'm bound to take your life Talkin' 'bout a bad man, ol' Stagger Lee Boom-boom, boom-boom, went that .44 An then I spied Billy, lyin' on the floor Talkin' 'bout a bad man, Stagger Lee Stagger Lee shot Billy, Shot that boy so bad The bullet went through Billy An' broke the bartender's lookin' glass Ol cruel Stagger Lee Gentlemens of the jury, What you think of that? Stagger Lee shot Billy About a five dollar hat You know it was a bad man, OI' cruel Stagger Lee Standin' at the gallows, Had his head way up high Twelve o' clock they killed him Folks glad to see him die Talkin' 'bout a bad man — talkin' cruel Stagger Lee With Stagger Lee shot Billy, He shot that boy so bad The bullet went through Billy An' broke the bartender's glass Talkin' 'bout a bad man — talkin' cruel Stagger Lee Talkin' 'bout a bad man — talkin' cruel Stagger Lee