Lyrics

[Verse 1] Louis Collins took a trip out West When he returned, little Delia had gone to rest The angels laid her away Louis said to Delia "That's the sad thing with life There's people always leavin' just as other folks arrive." The angels laid her away And when the people heard that Delia was dead All of them gentlemen they dressed in red The angels laid her away The angels laid her away Laid her six feet under the clay The angels laid her away [Verse 2] Louis went downtown for a new suit of clothes He's gonna dress up for Delia like a fine red rose The angels laid him away He brought a ten-gallon Stetson It was ox blood red Stackalee shot Louis in the back of his head The angels laid him away Stackalee said to Louis "Now don't you grieve I'm sending you to Delia, you won't ever have to leave." The angels laid him away The angels laid him away Laid him six feet under the clay The angels laid him away [Verse 3] Well the judge was a mean one His name was Hangin' Billy Lyons He said, "You always been a bad man, Stack You're gonna hang this time." The angels lay you away Well the jailer said to Stackalee "What's the problem with you?'" "Well jailer, Louis Collins' ghost brought Delia's with him, too." The angels laid him away The angels laid him away Laid him six feet under the clay The angels laid him away [Verse 4] Well they buried little Delia In the church yard deep With Louis Collins at her head Stackalee at her feet The angels laid them away Out of Delia's bed came briars Out of Louis's bed a rose Out of Stackalee's came Stackalee's cold, lonely, little ghost The angels laid them away The angels laid them away Laid them six feet under the clay The angels laid them away [Verse 5/Outro] And I'm looking over rooftops And I'm hoping it ain't true That the same God s'lookin out for them S'lookin out for me and you The angels laid them away The angels laid them away Yes the angels laid them away