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Stagger Lee

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(Garcia/Hunter)
[Intro]
C D E
F C   Bb   F           Bb
1940, Xmas eve, with a full moon over town
F       C       Bb      F
Stagger Lee met Billy DeLion
       Bb
And he blew that poor boy down.
F      C            Bb       F
Do you know what he shot him for?
     Bb                  BbAAb
                        (  )
What do you make of that?
      G
Cause Billy DeLion threw lucky dice
    A
Won Stagger Lee's Stetson hat.
Riff
C  D   C  D   G                         C  G
Bayou, Bayou, tell me how can this be?
      G                  C       G
You arrest the girls for turning tricks
                     C       D   C
But you're scared of Stagger Lee.
G                C  G                  C     D
Stagger Lee is a madman and he shot my Billy D.
C           G     C              D   CGCD
                                    (   )
Bayou go get him or give the job to me.
C   D  C    D     G               C  G
Delia DeLions, oh sweet Delia-D
 G                  C       G                 C      D    C
How the hell can I arrest him? He's twice as big as me.
       G              C       G                 C     D
Well don't ask me to go downtown, I won't come back alive
      C                 G          C      D   CGCD
                                             (   )
Not only is that mother big but he packs a .45 
F   C   Bb   F      Bb
Bayou, Delia said, just give me a gun
F            C    Bb   F        Bb
He shot my Billy dead now I'm gonna see him hung.
F      C         Bb      F         Bb               BbAAb
                                                   (  )
She went into the DeLion's club through Billy DeLions blood
   G
Stepped up to Stagger Lee at the bar,
        A
Said, "Buy me a gin fizz, love."
C     D        C      D               G                     C  G
As Stagger Lee lit a cigarette she shot him in the balls
 G                        C  G                       C    D    C
Blew the smoke off her revolver, had him dragged to city hall
 G       C  G            C     D
Bayou, Bayou, see you hang him high
C           G     C                     D   CGCD
                                           (   )
He shot my Billy dead and now he's got to die.
D    C D        C        G                     C  G
Delia went a walking down on Singapore Street
 G                          C     G               C      D    C
A three-piece band on the corner played "Near My God to Thee"
 G                     C         G                C     D
But Delia whistled a different tune, what tune could it be?
C                    G                C      D   CGCD
                                                (   )
The song that woman sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".
C                    G                C      D   CGCD
                                                (   )
The song that Delia sung was "Look Out Stagger Lee".

Stagger Lee chords and lyrics

Free chords for Stagger Lee by Grateful Dead. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

(Garcia/Hunter)
[Intro]
C D E
Riff

Stagger Lee Chords by Grateful Dead

Learn how to play Stagger Lee by Grateful Dead with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Stagger Lee chords”, “Stagger Lee guitar chords”, or “Grateful Dead Stagger Lee chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Stagger Lee chords and for experienced players who want accurate Stagger Lee lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, D, E, F, Bb, A.

Frequently asked questions about Stagger Lee

How do I play "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead free?

Yes. The chords for "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Stagger Lee" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Stagger Lee" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Stagger Lee"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Stagger Lee" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Stagger Lee" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Stagger Lee" by Grateful Dead with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by Grateful Dead below.

What key is "Stagger Lee" in?

The chords for "Stagger Lee" show the original chord names (including C, D, E, F, Bb, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.