C               C7             F              Fm
Stagger Lee met Billy and they go down to gambling
C
Stagger Lee throwed seven
G                          C
Billy said that he throwed eight
   C               C7                 F            Fm
So Billy said, hey Stagger! I'm gonna make my big attack
    C                      G             C
I'm gonna have to leave my knife in your back"

(C'mon, let's start all over again)

[Instrumental Intro]
G C G D G

[Verse]
G
Why do you try to cheat?
And trample people under your feet
                           C
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat the tryin' man
                           G
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat the tryin' man
               D
But you better stop
                    G
It is the wrong 'em boyo

[Verse]
G
You lie, steal, cheat and deceit
In such a small, small game
                           C
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat the tryin' man
                           G
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat the tryin' man
           D
You better stop
                    G
It is the wrong 'em boyo

[Instrumental Verse]
G C G D G

[Verse]
G
Billy Boy has been shot
And Stagger Lee's come out on top
                           C
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat the tryin' man
                           G
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat Stagger man
             D
You'd better stop (you better stop)
                         G
Hey, it is the wrong 'em boyo hey

[Verse]
G
So you must start all over again
All over again
                           C
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
Play it, Billy, play
                           G
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
Well play it, Billy, play
             D
An' you will find
                    G
It is the right 'em boyo

[Verse]
G
But if you must lie and deceit
And trample people under your feet
                           C
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat the tryin' man
                           G
(Don't ya' know it is wrong?)
To cheat a tryin' man
           D
You better stop
                    G
It is the wrong 'em boyo

[Outro]
G
It is the wrong 'em boyo
It is the wrong 'em boyo
                   C
It is the wrong 'em
                    G
It is the wrong 'em boyo
                    D     G
It is the wrong 'em boyo