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
Don't you know it is wrong?
To cheat the trying man
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
To cheat the trying man
Don't you know it is wrong?
To cheat the trying man
You better stop, it is the wrong'em boyo

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
Don't you know it is wrong
To cheat Stagger man
You'd better stop
Hey, it is the wrong'em boyo

So you must start all over again-all over again
Don't you know it is wrong
Play it, Billy, play
Don't you know it is wrong
So 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
To cheat the trying man
Don't you know it is wrong
To cheat the trying man
You'd better stop

It is the wrong'em boyo
It is the wrong'em boyo
It is the wrong'em boyo
It is the wrong'em boyo
It is the wrong'em boyo