Lyrics: Traditional (arr Dylan)
Music: Traditional (arr Dylan)
Bob Dylan's take on Stagger Lee, from his album World Gone Wrong.
Hawlin Alley on a dark and drizzly night
Billy Lyons and Stack-A-Lee had one terrible fight
All about that John B. Stetson hat
Stack-A-Lee walked to the bar-room, and he called for a glass of beer
Turned around to Billy Lyons, said, what are you doin' here?
Waitin' for a train, please bring my woman home
Stack-A-Lee, oh Stack-A-Lee. please don't take my life
Got three little children and a-weepin', lovin' wife
You're a bad man, bad man, Stack-A-Lee
God bless your children and I'll take care of your wife
You stole my John B., now I'm bound to take your life
All about that John B. Stetson hat
Stack-A-Lee turned to Billy Lyons and he shot him right through the head
Only taking one shot to kill Billy Lyons dead
All about that John B. Stetson hat
Sent for the doctor, well the doctor he did come
Just pointed out Stack-A-Lee, said now what have you done?
You're a bad man, bad man, Stack-A-Lee
Six big horses and a rubber-tired hack
Taking him to the cemetery, buy they failed to bring him back
All about that John B. Stetson hat
Hawlin Alley, thought I heard the bulldogs bark
It must have been old Stack-A-Lee stumbling in the dark
He's a bad man, gonna land him right back in jail
High police walked on to Stack-A-Lee, he was lying fast asleep
High police walked on to Stack-A-Lee, and he jumped forty feet.
He's a bad man, gonna land him right back in jail
Well they got old Stack-A-Lee and they laid him right back in jail
Couldn't get a man around to go Stack-A Lee's bail
All about that John B. Stetson hat
Stack-A-Lee turned to the jailer, he said Jailer, I can't sleep
'Round my bedside Billy Lyons began to creep
All about that John B. Stetson hat