Three traditional versions of the song from Murder Ballads. Nick's version is also available. Further details (and the actual book Nick edited from) are also available.. Stagolee. Bad man Stagalee when he bad. He bad wid a gun. Stagalee Stagalee --- you must-a been a sinner. Ev'ry- Christmas eve they give Stagalee a dinner. Bad man Stagalee when he bad. He bad wid a gun.. . Don't you remember you remember. One dark stormy night. Stagalee and Bill O. Lion. Dey had dat noble fight.. . Bill O. Lion tole Stagalee. Please don't take my life. I got three little children. And a dear lil' lovin'wife. . Stagalee told Billy O. Lion. I don't care for your three lil' children. Or even your lovin' wife. You stole mah Stetson hat. And I'm goin to take yo'life. . Stagalee pulled out his forty-four. It went boom boom boom. It wasn't long' fore Bill O. Lion. WVere layin'on de flo'. . Stagalee's woman she went to her boss. Said "Please give me some change.. Dey got my baby in de station house. An'mah business mus'be'ranged. ". . Stagalee asked his woman. "How much change has you got?". She run her han'in her stocking feet. And pulled out a hundred spot.. She had to get mo'money.. . From Southern Folk Ballads McNeill Collected from Vera Hall AL 1947. . Stagolee. Stagolee was a bad man. Ev'rybody knows.. Spent one hundred dollars. Just to buy him a suit of dothes.. He was a bad man. That mean old Stagolee. . Stagolee shot Billy de Lyons. What do you think about that?. Shot him down in cold blood. Because he stole his Stetson hat;. . He was a bad man. That mean old Stagolee. . Billy de Lyons said Stagolee. Please don't take my life. I've got two little babes. And a darling loving wife;. . You are a bad man. You mean old Stagolee.. . What do I care about your two little babes. Your darling loving wife?. You done stole my Stetson hat. I'm bound to take your life;. . He was a bad man. That mean old Stagolee.. . The judge said Stagolee. What you doing in here?. You done shot Mr. Billy de Lyons. You going to die in the electric chair;. . He was a bad man. That mean old Stagolee.. . Twelve o'clock they killed him. Head reached up high. Last thing that poor boy said. "My six-shooter never lied.". He was a bad man. That mean old Stagolee.. . Stagolee. chorus: Stagolee Stagolee he's the meanest man in town. When that boy starts gamblin' better lay your money down. Down in New Orleans where they got that Lyon's Club. Every step you step you're steppin' in Billy de Lyon's blood. . I remember one September on a cold and stormy night. Billy de Lyon and Stagolee Lord they had a great big fight. Billy shot a seven and Stack he said he'd pass. Stack said to Billy de Lyon "Brother. You done shot your last". . The woman asked the sheriff said "How can this be?. You got all them bad men but you can't get Stagolee". Deputies took their badges and they laid them on the shelf. "If you want to get that bad man you get him by yourself". . Now send for the policemen a hundred thousand come. Loaded down with rifles and a great big Gatling gun. On Friday we condemned him the judge he lowered his head. On Saturday we hanged him I was glad to see him dead.