Lyrics:

It was early early one mornin'
Boys I heard that fool dog bark
He was barkin' at the two men
Who were gamblin in the dark

It was Stagolee and Billy Lion
Boys, they were gamblin that early day
Yeah, they tossed up that seven
Billy Lion told him the easy way

Stagolee lost all his money
Lost his new cadilac
He said I believe your cheatin'
Don't be here when I get back

Stagolee went home
And he knocked up on his woman's door
He said wake up little Bertha baby
And hand me my forty-four

You know Bertha rose out of bed screamin
She was lookin' him dead smack in the eye
She said come on in honey
I can see some poor man's gonna die

Then Stagolee told Bertha
That he had lost his new cadilic
But he believed Billy was cheatin'
And she knew he wouldn't go for that

Stagolee went back on the corner
And stood up in the barroom door
And he said don't nobody move
'Cause I got me my forty-four

Stagolee cried Billy
And he shot the poor boy so fast
The bullet went through Billy
And it broke the bartenders glass

Then Billy Lion started screamin
I heard him say Stagolee don't take my life
You know I got two little children
And a poor little old sickly wife

Stagolee told Billy
Yeah I know you got a cute little boy and girl
If you want to see your family billy
You'll have to meet 'em in another world