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 When the people heard 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 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 Stacker Lee shot Louis in the back of the head The angels laid him away Oh Stacker Lee said to Louis, '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 They laid him six feet under the clay The angels laid him away Well the judge was a mean one His name was Hangin' Billy Lyons He said "You've always been a bad man, Stack, you gonna hang this time. The angels lay you away." And the jailer said to Stacker Lee 'What's the problem with you?" 'Aw jailer, Louis Collins' ghost brought Delia's with him, too." The angels laid them away Angels laid him away They laid him six feet under the clay The angels laid him away Well they buried little Delia In the church yard deep With Louis Collins at her head Stacker Lee at her feet The angels laid them away And out of Delia's bed came briars Out of Louis's bed a rose Out of Stacker Lee's came Stacker Lee's cold lonely little ghost Angels laid them away And I'm looking over rooftops And I'm hoping that it ain't true That the same God looks out for them Looks out for me and you Angels laid them away Angels laid them away Angels laid them away