"Stackolee" lyrics - MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT

Police officer, how can it be
You can 'rest everybody but cruel Stackolee
That bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

Billy de Lyon told Stackolee, "Please don't take my life
Says, "I got two little babies, and a darlin' lovin' wife"
He's a bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

"What I care about your two little babies, your darlin' lovin' wife?"
Says, "You done stole my Stetson hat, and I'm bound to take your life"
That bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

Boom boom, boom boom, with a.44
When I spied poor Billy de Lyon, he's lyin' down on the floor
That bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

Lord help me
[Humming]

"Gentlemans of the jury, what you think of that?
That Stackolee killed Billy de Lyon about a five-dollar Stetson hat!"
That bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

Standing on the gallows, Stackolee did curse
The Judge said let's kill him, 'fore he kill some of us
He's a bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

Standing on the gallows, head way up high
At twelve o'clock they killed him, they's all glad to see him die
That bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee

I said policin' officer, how can it be
You can 'rest everybody but cruel Stackolee
That bad man, oh, cruel Stackolee