From the magazine "Current Opinion" (Feb., 1920), p. 246 (reprinted from "Reedy's Mirror")

Stackerlee: A Missouri Folk Song

On one cold and frosty Christmas night,
Stackerlee and Billy Lyons had an awful fight--
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Said Billy Lyons to Stackerlee, "Don't you take my life,—
Remember my two children and my loving wife."
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

"Care nothing 'bout your children, care nothing 'bout your wife,
You spit in my Stetson hat, and I'm going to take your life." — Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Billy Lyons, Billy Lyons, staggered through the door,
'Cause Stackerlee had got him with his great big forty-four.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Dogs did howl, dogs did bark,
When Stackerlee, the murderer, went creeping through the dark.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Dogs did howl, and trees did moan:
I think he whispered "Mother," as he went by his home.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Sergeant and two policemen, Stackerlee behind a tree:
Sergeant said to Stackerlee: "Better come along with me."—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Up in the jail cells, Stackerlee in despair,
He hears them repairing that old electric chair.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Little Lillie Sheldon, when she first heard the news,
She was sittin' on her bedside, just alacin' up her shoes.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

She wired to Stackerlee, "Don't you weep or moan:
Your honey-babe will get you out of jail, if she has to sell her home."—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

In answer to her message, this is what she read:
"Where shall we send the body? Your Stackerlee is dead."—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Rubber tires on the carriages, rubber tires on the hacks,
Took old Stack to the cemetery, never to bring him back.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Rounders, Rounders, you take my advice:
Stop your drinking whiskey, stop your shaking dice.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

Stackerlee, Stackerlee, what do you think of that?
Killed old Billy Lyons over a damned old Stetson hat.—
Everybody talk about Stackerlee!

What a bold bad man he must be:
With his forty-four and his bowie-knife, never hesitate for to take your life.—
Oh, everybody talk about Stackerlee!