1948, Christmas Eve, with a full moon over town
Stagger Lee shot Billy DeLions
And he blew that poor boy down
Do you know what he shot him for?
What do you make of that?
Billy DeLions threw the lucky dice
Won Stagger Lee's Stetson hat
Bayo, Bayo, tell me how can this be?
You arrest the girls for turning tricks
But you're scared of Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee's a madman and he shot my Billy D
Bayo, go get him or give the job to me

Delia DeLions, dear sweet Delia D
How the hell could I arrest him? He's twice as big as me
Well, don't ask me to go downtown, I won't come back alive
Not only is that mother big, he packs a .45
Bayo, Delia said, just give me a gun
He shot my Billy dead, now I'm going to see him hung
She went into the DeLion's club through Billy DeLions blood
Stepped up to Stagger Lee at the bar
Said, "Buy me a gin fizz, love"

[Instrumental break]

Stagger Lee lit a cigarette, she shot him in the balls
Pulled on her revolver, had him dragged to city hall
Bayo, Bayo, see you hang him high
He shot my Billy dead, and now he's got to die
Delia went a-walking down on Singapore Street
A three-piece band on the corner played "Near My God to Thee"
Well, Delia whistled a different tune, what tune could it be?
The song that Delia sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee"
The song that woman sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee"
The song that Delia sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee"
The song that woman sung, "Look Out Stagger Lee"
[Instrumental]