Stagolee

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