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Old 10-13-2017, 07:07 AM   #1 (permalink)
fab12
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Default Help me find those lyrics: Doc Watson - Stagger Lee

I tried to write down some lyrics of stagger Lee version by Doc Watson (that I can't find on internet).
But I'm struggling with some specific part
If someone could fill the blank and correct mistake I would appreciate.

I made a guitar transcription if anyone is interested...

All loud in the alley, [in the dylan version its Hawlin Alley, I guess it is supposed to be a town but that is not what I hear in doc's version]
on a dark and dreary night
Billy Lyons and old Stagger Lee,
they had one awful fight
It was all about
A John B. Stetson hat

Billy went to the bar room
He get him a glass o’ beer
Old Stagger Lee comes stomping in
He said “what are you doing in here”
That bad man “they call me Stagger Lee”

Old Stagger Lee says to Billy
“I’m gonna kill you dead,
You've taken all my money and
My stet’ right over my head.
Yeah I’m gonna kill you!
they call me Stagger Lee”

Billy Lyons says “now Stagger Lee
Won’t you please spare my life,
I got two little children man
And a darling loving wife
Don’t kill me
Don”t kill me Stagger Lee”

Old Stag he says to Billy
“no I ain’t gonna spare your life
God bless your little children son
And I'll take care of your wife.
I’m that bad man.
they call me Stagger Lee”

Old Stagger Lee shot poor Billy
He shot him right through the head
It only take him one 44. Bullet
To kill poor Billy dead
That bad man
That rascal Stagger Lee

All loud in the alley,
I heared my bulldog bark
His barking had old Stagger lee
Went stumbling through the dark
That bad man he’s scared too
That awful Stagger Lee

When the sheriff found old Stagger Lee
Found him fast asleep
And when he wakin old Stag up
He said he jump about 40 feet
He’s a bad man
Yes they call old Stagger Lee

Then Stag says to the jailer
“Mr. Jailer I can’t sleep
Everytime I close my eyes
____ Billy Lyons begins to creep [I don't hear that but that is what is on Dylan version]
All around
This jailhouse all the time”

Men folks all are laughing
Women folks all are crying
See the folks that come from miles around
Just to see old stagger lee die
That bad man
Yeah they called him Stagger Lee

Old Stag standing up on the scaffold
When he begins to curse
And the sheriff says “let’s hang him boys
for He killed one of us
He’s a bad man
they called him Stagger Lee

Somebody tripped that scaffold
And Old Stag went down below
When the devil seen him a coming he says
"I hate this rascal soul"
We don’t need him down here

Stag grab the devil by the collar
And he threwed him up on the shelf
He said “get out of here You son of a gun”
I’ll run this place myself
I’m that bad man
They called me Stagger Lee

Last edited by fab12; 10-24-2017 at 06:08 AM.
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