Dave Van Ronk
Stackalee
I remember one September
Cold and frosty night
Mr. Stackerlee and Billy deLyons
Had a great fight
When you lose your money
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Ol' Stackerlee shot six bits
Billy Lyons, bet he passed
Stackerlee out with his forty-five
Says, "You've done shot your last"
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Lord, a woman comes a running
Fell down on her knees
Crying, "Lordy Lord, Mister Stackerlee
Don't shoot my brother please"
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Talk about some gambler
Oughta seen my Richard Lee
Shot one thousand dollars
And he come out on a three
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Stackerlee got his pistol
Lord, he got it fast
Shot poor Billy through and through
And he broke a looking glass
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Well, the deputy says to the sheriff
"We want him dead or alive"
"How in the world can we bring him in
When he totes a forty-five?"
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Old deputy leaves the office
Put his pistol on the shelf
"You wanna go and get that bad man
Better do it by yourself"
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Well, they sent for the militia
Wagons come
Loaded up with pistols
And a great big Gatling gun
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Well, the judge says, "Mister Stackerlee
Mister bad man Stackerlee
Gonna hang your body up
And set your spirit free"
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Well, he's standin' on his gallows
Head way up high
Twelve o'clock, we killed him
I was glad to see him die
When you lose your money...

"There's a great big rumbling underground
Mama, what is that?"
"Ain't nothin' but old Stackerlee down in hell
With his John B. Stetson hat"
When you lose your money
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Well, Stack says to the devil
"Devil, lets have some fun
You stab me with your pitchfork
And I'll shoot you with my gun"
When you lose your money
Learn to lose
Well, Stack says to the devil
"Put your pitchfork on the shelf
I'm the bad man they call Stackerlee
I'm gonna rule hell by myself"
When you lose your money
Learn to lose