Stagolee adaptation

Researching shorter ballad-like repertoire, I hit upon Stagolee
as done by Mississippi John Hurt. He presents the early action
in spoken prose. Our usual audience isn't used to that, so I
versified MJH's preface, setting up the excuse for the murder
in an un-historical way.

I cut the action off at the murder itself; the trial and Stag's
defiant words are outside the audience expectations.

Here's my version (copyleft); use it as you like and maybe credit "Dog-Dare Dave".
________________________

Stagolee


Tell y'bout a bad man, mean as a man can be.
Made himself a name, a name to fear and the name was Stagolee.
    That bad man, that cruel Stagolee!

Po- licin' Officer: how can it be
you can 'rest ever'body but mean Stagolee?
    That bad man, ...

Down in the coal mine we done robbed, gamblin' goin' on,
money all flyin' and lyin' around and coldly lookin' on:
    That bad man, ...

Billy Bildad, he thinks he's bad, got a 45 lyin' by.
He's ridin' high, and by and by Stagolee gives him the eye,
    That bad man, ...

"Boys, look at all that money just a-lyin' there on the floor.
How'd we be if old _ Stagolee come walkin' thu that door?
    That bad man, ...

Stop our playin', hear Billy sayin' "Wouldn' make no never-mind.
Stag's gun don't shoot, no rooty-toot-toot, one skeeterfart harder than mine."
    That bad man, ...

Stag knocks his own hat off, lands smack in Billy's lap.
It's plain to see, old Stagolee is spoilin' fer a scrap.
    That bad man, ...

Billy looks at that Stetson hat, then he looks 'roun' at the rest.
He's startin' to think he's on the brink of somethin' not fer the best.
    That bad man, ...

"Stagolee, Stagolee, please don't take my life."
Says "I've _ got _ two little babies and a darlin' lovin' wife."
    That bad man, ...

"Why I care 'bout yer two little babies, darlin' lovin' wife?
You done stole my Stetson hat, I'm bound to take your life.
    It's a magic hat!" (that cruel Stagolee!)

Boom-boom, boom-boom, with a forty-four.
Next thing we see it's poor Bil-lee, he's lyin' dead on the floor.
    That bad man, ...

Po- licin' Officer: how can it be
you can 'rest ever'body but mean Stagolee?
    That bad man, ...

CODA:
    That bad man, that cruel,
    Don't care about no rule,
    That lowdown showdown fool
    STAGOLEE.

DZ, 2018\3\10 earfirst.net