Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Johnny Rivers
Canonical path: /johnny-rivers/stagger-lee
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
Stagger Lee
Read Stagger Lee lyrics by Johnny Rivers on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Stagger Lee
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
The night was clear and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down
I was standing on the corner
When I heard my bulldog bark
He was barking up at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw a seven
Billy swore that he threw an eight
Stagger Lee told: "Billy,
I can't let you get away with that
Well, you've won all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat"
Stagger Lee went home
And he got his 44
Said, "I'm going to the bar room
Just to pay that debt that I owe"
"Stagger Lee", cried Billy
"Oh, please don't take my life
I got three little children
And a very sickly wife"
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad
That the bullet came thru Billy
And went right thru the bartender's glass
Oh Stagger Lee! Hey!
Stagger Lee went to the bar room
And he stood across that bar room doors
Said, "Now, nobody move"
And he pulled out his 44
"Stagger Lee", cried Billy
"Oh, please don't take my life
I got three little children
And a very sickly wife"
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad
That the bullet came thru Billy
And went right thru the bartender's glass.
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Stagger Lee"?
Johnny Rivers performs "Stagger Lee", and this lyric page sits inside the Johnny Rivers catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Stagger Lee"?
Yes. The related section below points to 500 Miles and A Hole In The Ground with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Johnny Rivers?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Johnny Rivers's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Stagger Lee yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.