Police officer, how can it be
You can 'rrest everybody but cruel Stackolee?
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee

Billy, says I, told Stackolee, "please don't take my life"
Says, "I got two little babes and a darlin' lovin' wife"
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee

"What I care about your two little babes, your darlin' lovin' wife?"
Says, "You done stole my suds and hat; I'm bound to take your life"
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee

Boom boom, boom boom, went a .44
When I spied poor Billy [?], he lied down in the floor
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee

[Humming]

Gentlemans of the jury, says, "What you think of that?"
Says, "Stackolee killed Billy [?] 'bout a five-dollar Stetson hat"
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee

Standing on the gallows, Stackolee did curse
The judgе said, "Let's kill him, before hе kills some of us"
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee
Standin' on the gallows, head well high
At twelve o'clock they killed him, they's all glad to see him die
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee

I said, "Police officer, how can it be
You can 'rrest everybody but cruel Stackolee?"
That bad man, oh cruel Stackolee