Stack Shot Billy
The Black Keys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of the head
Stack made sure Billy Lyons
Was dead
.45 pistol down in Stack's right hand
Sent him away to the promised land
Stack shot Billy .45
Billy laid down and died
Stack Lee had himself an
Evil brain
Loved his gun and his
Sweet cocaine
But Stack got quiet when
Shadows fell
Cause he knew soon enough
He'd burn in hell
The Black Keys's song "Stack Shot Billy" is a musical retelling of the legendary murder ballad "Stagger Lee," a song that has been passed on and adapted for over a century. The song tells the story of a confrontation between two gamblers, Stack Lee and Billy Lyons, which resulted in Stack shooting Billy in the back of the head. The lyrics depict Stack Lee as a ruthless and violent character who "loved his gun and his sweet cocaine." He is aware of his own wickedness, realizing that he will eventually "burn in hell." The song concludes with Stack's arrest and punishment for his crime.
The lyrics present a visceral image of violence, using evocative language such as "Stack shot Billy .45" and "sent him away to the promised land" to describe the murder. The song is structured as a call-and-response, with the lead vocalist (Dan Auerbach) singing Stack's lines and the backing vocals responding with Billy's. The music itself is bluesy and raw, with a driving guitar riff and a pounding rhythm section that matches the intensity of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Stack shot Billy in the back
Stack Lee fatally shot Billy Lyons from behind
Of the head
The bullet hit Billy in the head
Stack made sure Billy Lyons
Stack was determined to kill Billy Lyons
Was dead
Billy Lyons was killed by Stack
.45 pistol down in Stack's right hand
Stack was holding a .45 pistol in his right hand when he shot Billy
Sent him away to the promised land
Stack sent Billy to the afterlife by killing him
Stack shot Billy .45
Stack shot Billy with a .45 caliber pistol
Billy laid down and died
Billy fell down and died after being shot by Stack
Stack Lee had himself an
Stack Lee possessed
Evil brain
A wicked mind
Loved his gun and his
Stack was fond of his firearm and
Sweet cocaine
addicted to cocaine
But Stack got quiet when
However, Stack became quiet when
Shadows fell
Night time approached
Cause he knew soon enough
Because he was aware
He'd burn in hell
He would be punished in the afterlife for his actions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DANIEL QUINE AUERBACH, PATRICK JAMES CARNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
strato
Stack Shot Billy"
Stack shot Billy in the back of the head,
Stack made sure Billy Lyons was dead,
.45 pistol down in Stack's right hand,
Send him away to the promised land,
Stack shot Billy,
.45,
Stack shot Billy,
Billy lay down and died,
Stack Lee had himself an evil brain,
Loved his gun and his sweet cocaine,
Stack got quiet when the shadows fell,
Knew soon enough that he'd burn in hell,
Stack shot Billy,
.45,
Stack shot Billy,
Billy lay down and died,
Stack shot Billy in the back of the head,
Stack made sure Billy Lyons was dead,
.45 pistol down in Stack's right hand,
Send him away to the promised land,
Stack shot Billy,
.45,
Stack shot Billy,
Billy lay down and died.
AnotherDave
Stack shot Billy in the back of the head
Stack made sure Billy Lyons was dead
.45 pistol down in Stack's right hand
Sent him away to the promised land
Stack shot Billy
.45
Stack shot Billy
Billy laid down and died
Stack Lee had himself an evil brain
Loved his gun and his sweet cocaine
(But) Stack got quiet when the shadows fell
(Cause he) knew soon enough he'd burn in hell
Chris Clark
A relatively unknown song; yet, such a masterpiece. Wish The Black Keys would come back to their roots.
your mom
Listen to the new song. Came back to their roots, but it's pretty weak
DrNickRiveria
@your mom too polished
your mom
@DrNickRiveria as i said, it is weak
Solstice Dame
Amen!
Desert Rain Frog
@DrNickRiveria That's because they're not recording in an abandoned General Tire factory in Akron, Ohio anymore. Being utterly destitute had an impact on their sound.
Nick Schrombeck
Recently discovered this song. What a nice tune! Keep getting that chorus, and really the guitar riff, stuck in my head.
Crazy how different The Black Keys used to be from someone who only learned of them after El Camino!
C
If you like this song, check out the live version on Letterman
andrew potter
welcome friend, those who know, simply know
Alec Azadi-Hocking
Who would’ve thought that a bar fight in St. Louis would’ve led to so many awesome blues songs? Even today you have bands like the Black Keys and solo artists like Nick Cave writing about it.