by Mississippi John Hurt

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

/ D - / G -D / A D /

Billy de Lyon told Stagolee, "Please don't take my life,
I got two little babies, and a darlin' lovin' wife"
That... (etc)

"What I care about you little babies, your darlin' lovin' wife?
You done stole my Stetson hat, I'm bound to take your life"

Boom boom boom, went his '44
When I spied Billy de Lyon, he was lyin' down on the floor

People of the jury, what do you think of that?
Stagolee killed Billy de Lyon about a five-dollar Stetson hat"

Stagolee on the gallows, head held way up high
At 12 o'clock they killed him, they's all glad to see him die