Lewis Collins took a trip out west
And when he returned
little Delia had gone to rest
The angels laid her away

Lewis said to Delia
that's the sad thing with life
there's people always leaving
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

Angels laid her away
laid her six feet under the clay
the angels laid her away

Lewis 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 bought a ten-gallon stetson
it was ox-blood red
and then Stacker Lee shot Lewis
in the back of the head
the angels laid him away

Stacker Lee said to Lewis
oh now don't you grieve
I'm sending you to Delia
you won't ever have to leave
the angels laid him away

Angels laid him away
laid him six feet under the clay
the angels laid him away

Oh the judge was a mean one
his name was hangin' Billy Lyons
He said you've always been a bad man, Stack
You're gonna hang this time
the angels lay you away

And the jailer said to Stacker Lee
What's the problem with you?
Oh jailer, Lewis Collins ghost brought Delia's with him too
and the angels laid him away

Angels laid him away
laid him six feet under the clay
the angels laid him away

Well they buried little Delia
in the churchyard deep
With Lewis Collins at her head
Stacker Lee at her feet
the angels laid them away

And out of Delia's bed came briars
and out of Lewis' bed a rose
and out of Stacker Lee's came
Stacker Lee's cold lonely little ghost
the angels laid them away

And I'm lookin' over rooftops
and I'm hopin' that it ain't [bad word] that the same God looks out for them
looks out for me and you
the angels laid them away
the angels laid them away
the angels laid them away