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