Wrong em Boyo
Buck-O-Nine Lyrics


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Stagger Lee met Billy and they go down to gambling
Stagger Lee throwed seven
Billy said that he throwed eight
So Billy said, hey Stagger! I'm gonna make my big attack
I'm gonna have to leave my knife in your back

Why do you try to cheat?
And trample people under your feet
Don't you know it is wrong?
To cheat the trying man
Well you better stop, it is the wrong 'em boyo

You lie, steal, cheat and deceit
In such a small, small game
Don't you know it is wrong

Billy Boy has been shot
And Stagger Lee's come out on top
Don't you know it is wrong
To cheat the trying man
To cheat Stagger man
You'd better stop
So you must start all over again-all over again
You got to play it, Billy, play, you got to play it, Billy, play
And you will find it is the right 'em boyo

But if you must lie and deceit
And trample people under your feet




Don't you know it is wrong
It is the wrong 'em boyo

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Buck-O-Nine's song "Wrong em Boyo" tell a story of two men who have a disagreement while gambling. Stagger Lee, who is already known as a notorious cheater, throws a seven, and then Billy claims he threw an eight. Billy plans to attack Stagger Lee with a knife, accusing him of cheating. Stagger Lee asks Billy why he tries to cheat and trample on people, stating that it's wrong to cheat anyone, especially those who are already trying. Stagger Lee comes out on top after a fight with Billy, who has been shot.


The lyrics are a commentary on the morality of cheating and taking advantage of others for personal gain. The song seems to suggest that cheating will ultimately lead to one's downfall and that it's important to play fair, even when things get tough. The lyrics also imply that violence is not the answer and that trying to hurt others will only result in harm to oneself.


The phrase "wrong em boyo" is a Jamaican slang term that means to take advantage of someone, often through deception or force. This phrase was originally used in a Jamaican folk song and was popularized by the British band The Clash, who covered the song in 1979. Buck-O-Nine's version of the song pays homage to The Clash's cover and uses the phrase as a warning against cheating and violence.


Line by Line Meaning

Stagger Lee met Billy and they go down to gambling
Stagger Lee and Billy met and went to gamble together


Stagger Lee throwed seven
Stagger Lee rolled a seven on the dice


Billy said that he throwed eight
Billy claimed that he rolled an eight


So Billy said, hey Stagger! I'm gonna make my big attack
Billy warned Stagger Lee that he was going to make a bold move


I'm gonna have to leave my knife in your back
Billy threatened to stab Stagger Lee in the back


Why do you try to cheat?
Questioning why someone would attempt to cheat


And trample people under your feet
Pointing out that cheating is a way of unfairly harming others


Don't you know it is wrong?
Asking if the person understands that cheating is morally unacceptable


To cheat the trying man
Cheating someone who is already struggling or doing their best


Well you better stop, it is the wrong 'em boyo
Advising the cheater to stop because it is wrong


You lie, steal, cheat and deceit
Accusing the cheater of engaging in multiple dishonest actions


In such a small, small game
Pointing out that cheating in this small gambling game is especially petty


Billy Boy has been shot
Stating that Billy has been shot


And Stagger Lee's come out on top
Noting that Stagger Lee has won the game and emerged victorious


To cheat Stagger man
Pointing out that cheating Stagger Lee is particularly unwise


You'd better stop
Warning the cheater to cease their dishonest behavior


So you must start all over again-all over again
The cheater must start again because they have been caught and lost


You got to play it, Billy, play, you got to play it, Billy, play
Encouraging Billy to play the game honestly


And you will find it is the right 'em boyo
If Billy plays the game fairly, he will see that it is the right way to do things


But if you must lie and deceit
Acknowledging that some people will continue to cheat despite the consequences


And trample people under your feet
Repeating the message that cheating is a way to harm others


Don't you know it is wrong
Reiterating that cheating is morally unacceptable


It is the wrong 'em boyo
The song's message is the 'wrong 'em boyo', or that cheating is wrong




Contributed by Elizabeth L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Too Nice

... 25 years listening to buck o nine and just now playing the shit out of this track!

Stephen Feller

If I had speakers at my desk, I'd be skanking around the newsroom pissing off my coworkers right now.

Slyman Collector

Lmao Faction Punk keeps playing this calling it Teenagers From Mars

Craig Morgan

3 months later and they still are

Gewitterwespe

no it was first performed and written by the rulers. I can't stand the rulers version but its the original versionand no, im not a hipster.

dilan martin

@flandmines1 TOMARROW IS ANOTHER DAY

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