Stagger Lee
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Lyrics

It was back in '32 when times were hard
The story takes place in the year 1932 during the Great Depression.

He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee carried a gun and a pack of cards with him.

He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Stagger Lee had worn-out shoes made of rat skin and an old cowboy hat.

Had a '28 Ford, he had payments on that
Stagger Lee owned a 1928 Ford car but was still paying for it in installments.

His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
Stagger Lee's girlfriend kicked him out in the cold weather outside.

And she told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee's girlfriend explicitly forbade him from ever returning.

So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
Stagger Lee moved through difficult weather like rain and mud on his way to his next destination.

'Til he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee made his way to a bar named The Bucket Of Blood.

He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
Stagger Lee introduced himself to the bartender at the bar with a swear word.

The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
The bartender did not know nor care about Stagger Lee's identity.

He said, "Well bartender, it's a plain to see
Stagger Lee pointed out that it was obvious that he was the infamous Stagger Lee.

I'm the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Stagger Lee boasted about his negative reputation and called himself a bad guy.

Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
The bartender's previous line became the last thing he ever spoke.

'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Stagger Lee brutally murdered the bartender by shooting him four times.

Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
A woman named Nellie Brown walked into the bar at that moment.

Known to make more money than any bitch in town
Nellie Brown was infamous for making more money than any other woman in the town by unconventional means.

She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Nellie attempted to seduce Stagger Lee by walking flirtatiously and lifting up her skirt.

Over to Stagger Lee, she's starting to flirt
Nellie flirted with Stagger Lee and was clearly drawn to him.

She saw the barkeep, said, "Oh God, he can't be dead!"
Nellie noticed the dead bartender and reacted with horror.

Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"
Stagger Lee nonchalantly suggested that Nellie confirm the bartender's death by counting the bullet holes in his head.

She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time
Nellie insinuated that Stagger Lee had not had any sexual activity lately.

Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Nellie invited Stagger Lee to her place for free sexual services.

But there's something I have to say before you begin
Nellie had a condition for Stagger Lee before they could proceed physically.

You have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in
Prior to their engagement, Nellie warned Stagger Lee that he must leave before her partner Billy Dilly returned home.

"I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
Stagger Lee boldly expressed his intent to stay at the place until Billy Dilly arrived.

And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Stagger Lee sought revenge by threatening to have intercourse with Billy Dilly in a demeaning way.

Said Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee confirmed his intentions and asserted his power by repeating the threat.

"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
Stagger Lee reinforced his reputation as a notorious tough guy.

And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Stagger Lee implied that he would go to extreme lengths to satisfy his desires.

Just then Billy Dilly rolls in, he says, "You must be
Billy Dilly arrived just in time to encounter Stagger Lee.

The mad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Billy Dilly identified Stagger Lee as the raging man he had heard about.

Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
Well-aware of his notoriety and power, Stagger Lee demanded power and acknowledgment from Billy Dilly.

Then suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Stagger Lee made an explicit threat of violence, demonstrating his desire for power.

Well Billy Dilly dropped down and slobbered on his head
Under the pressure of Stagger Lee's thrat, Billy Dilly submitted and performed fellatio.

And Stag filled him full of lead
Stagger Lee ended the encounter with Billy Dilly by shooting him to death.

Oh yeah
A verbal expression of triumph or victory.