Stagger Lee met Billy and they go down to gambling
  Stagger Lee throwed seven
  Billy said that he throwed eight
  So Billy said, hey Stagger! I'm gonna make my big attack
  I'm gonna have to leave my knife in your back
    Why do you try to cheat?
  And trample people under your feet
  Don't you know it is wrong?
  To cheat the trying man
  So you better stop, it is the wrong 'em boyo
    You lie, steal, cheat and deceit
  In such a small, small game
  Don't you know it is wrong
    Billy Boy has been shot
  And Stagger Lee's come out on top
  Don't you know it is wrong
  To cheat the trying man
  To cheat Stagger man
  You'd better stop
  So you must start all over again-all over again
  You got to play it, Billy, play, you got to play it, Billy, play
  And you will find it is the right 'em boyo
    But if you must lie and deceit
  And trample people under your feet
  Don't you know it is wrong
  It is the wrong 'em boyo