Their concerts and albums tend to emphasize cover songs of blues, R&B and early rock and roll hits from the 1950s. Wyman formed the Rhythm Kings after leaving the Rolling Stones in 1993 subsequent to the extended world-wide tour to support Steel Wheels, citing a desire to work in smaller clubs and avoid the pressure of being in one of the most successful rock bands in the world.
On 10 December 2007, Wyman and his band appeared alongside a reunited Led Zeppelin at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 in London. In 2009, ex-Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor was invited as a guest performer with Wyman's Rhythm Kings.
Wikipedia: Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings
Discogs: Bill Wyman's Bootleg Kings* ‎– Jump, Jive And Wail: The Very Best Of Bill Wyman's Bootleg Kings
Stagger Lee
Bill Wyman's Bootleg Kings Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the leaves came tumbling down
Well I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark
He was barkin at the two men who were gamblin' in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy, two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw seven and Billy swore that he threw eight
'Cause you have won all my money and my brand new Stetson hat
Stagger Lee, he went home and he got his forty-four
He said "I'm goin' to the barroom just to pay that debt I owe"
I said go, come on go
Yeah go, Stagger Lee
I'm goin' to the barroom just to pay that debt I owe
Stagger Lee went to that barroom and he stood across the barroom door
Said "Nobody move" as he pulled his forty-four
I said go, come on go
I said go, Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee, go go now
Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee said Billy, I can't let you go with that
'Cause you have won all my money and my brand new Stetson hat
Stagger Lee called Billy, whoa please don't take my life
I got three crippled children and a very sickly wife
Stagger Lee, he shot Billy, he shot that poor boy so bad
Till the bullet went through Billy and broke Georgie Fame's glass
I said go, come on go
Stagger Lee, Stagger Lee
I said go, I said go
I said go, I said go
I said go, I said go
Come on, go
The lyrics of Bill Wyman's Bootleg Kings's song "Stagger Lee" chronicle a tragic event, the shooting of a man named Billy by a notorious figure named Stagger Lee. The song begins with an image of a clear night and falling leaves, creating a sense of peacefulness that is quickly disrupted by the sound of a barking dog. The singer of the song hears his dog barking at two men who are gambling in the dark: Stagger Lee and Billy. Stagger Lee claims that Billy has won all his money and his new Stetson hat, and refuses to let him leave with the winnings. Stagger Lee then decides to go home to retrieve his gun, saying that he's going to the bar to pay his debt.
When Stagger Lee arrives at the bar, he commands everyone to freeze and shoots Billy, who begs for mercy on account of his family's situation. The shooting is portrayed as a senseless act of violence, ending in destruction as a bullet shatters Georgie Fame's glass. The final lines of the song urge Stagger Lee to leave, perhaps with a sense that justice cannot be served in this situation. The story exemplifies themes of power, greed, and violence, and has been retold in several forms of popular culture, including films and other songs.
Line by Line Meaning
When he night was clear and the moon was yellow
The scene is set on a clear night that has the moon shining bright with its yellow light.
And the leaves came tumbling down
With the autumn season in full swing, the leaves were falling down from the trees amid the silent night.
Well I was standing on the corner when I heard my bulldog bark
A person was standing on the street corner where his dog suddenly started barking.
He was barkin at the two men who were gamblin' in the dark
The dog was barking at two men who were gambling in the dark alleyway.
It was Stagger Lee and Billy, two men who gambled late
The two men were Stagger Lee and Billy, who liked to gamble till late hours in the night.
Stagger Lee threw seven and Billy swore that he threw eight
In the course of their gambling, Stagger Lee threw a number seven while Billy lied by claiming he threw eight.
Stagger Lee said Billy, I can't let you go with that
Stagger Lee refused to accept Billy's lie and demanded that he give up his winnings.
'Cause you have won all my money and my brand new Stetson hat
Stagger Lee was unhappy because Billy had won his money and his prized Stetson hat.
Stagger Lee, he went home and he got his forty-four
To settle the gambling debt, Stagger Lee went home to pick up his weapon, a colt forty-four.
He said "I'm goin' to the barroom just to pay that debt I owe"
Stagger Lee made up his mind to go to the barroom to confront Billy and pay the debt he owed him.
Stagger Lee went to that barroom and he stood across the barroom door
At the barroom, Stagger Lee stood across the door and declared his intent to settle his gambling debt.
Said "Nobody move" as he pulled his forty-four
Without any warning, Stagger Lee brandished his forty-four and ordered everyone in the barroom to stay still.
Stagger Lee said Billy, I can't let you go with that
Billy, realizing Stagger Lee's intention, made a plea to spare his life.
'Cause you have won all my money and my brand new Stetson hat
Billy reminded Stagger Lee of the reason why he had stolen his hat and winnings.
Stagger Lee called Billy, whoa please don't take my life
Despite Billy's plea, Stagger Lee was determined to take his life.
I got three crippled children and a very sickly wife
Billy attempted to sway Stagger Lee by pitying his three children who were handicapped and his sickly wife.
Stagger Lee, he shot Billy, he shot that poor boy so bad
Without remorse, Stagger Lee shot Billy so badly that it led to his death.
Till the bullet went through Billy and broke Georgie Fame's glass
Stagger Lee's shot was so forceful that it went through Billy and shattered the glass belonging to Georgie Fame.
I said go, come on go
These words suggest a sense of urgency for someone to leave the place.
Stagger Lee, Stagger Lee
These words are calling out Stagger Lee's name.
I said go, I said go
The phrase is repeated to emphasize the need to leave quickly.
I said go, I said go
The words are repeated again as a sense of urgency for someone to leave immediately.
I said go, I said go
These words suggest an insistence on somebody leaving the place quickly.
Come on, go
The final line of the song urges someone to leave in a hurry.
Contributed by Alice D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nat Fletcher
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