Lots of "strains" in this thread, high brow, low brow, middle brow ... I'm in a bluesy lowdown mood myself. For some reason, I love to sing along (badly) to this record from 1958, lyrics by Lloyd Price. Variations appear here and there but I took these lyrics right from the record. For more about the fascinating history of this song, click on
http://www.searchspaniel.com/index.php/Stagger_Lee
STAGGER LEE
(intro)
The night was clear,
and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumblin' down. . .
I was standing on a corner
When I heard my bull dog bark
He was barking at the two men
Who were gambling in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw a seven,
Billy swore that he threw eight
Stagger Lee told Billy
"I can't let you go with that
You have won all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat."
Then old Stagger Lee, he went home
And he got his forty-four
He said "I'm going down to the barroom
To pay that debt I owe"
bridge: Go, Stagger Lee!
Stagger Lee went to the barroom
And he stared across the barroom door
He said, "Nobody move"
And he pulled out his forty-four
"Oh, Stagger Lee," cried Billy
"Oh please don't take my life
I got three little children
And a very sickly wife"
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad
till the bullet went through Billy
And broke the bartender's glass.