Bibb was born on 16th August 1951 in New York into a musical family. His father, Leon Bibb, is a trained singer who sang in musical theatre and made a name for himself as part of the 1960s New York folk scene. His uncle was the world-famous jazz pianist and composer John Lewis, of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Family friends included Pete Seeger, Odetta, and actor/singer/activist Paul Robeson, Bibb'sgodfather.
Bibb was given his first steel-string guitar when he was seven years old. Growing up surrounded by talent, he recalls a childhood conversation with Bob Dylan, who, on the subject of guitar playing advised the eleven-year-old Bibb to "Keep it simple, forget all that fancy stuff".
At sixteen years old, Bibb's father invited him to play guitar in the house band for his television talent show Someone New. Bibb's early musical heroes were from his father's band, and included Bill Lee (father of director Spike), who appeared on Bibb's album Me To You, years later.
In 1969, Bibb played guitar for the Negro Ensemble Company at St Mark's place in New York, and went on to study Psychology and Russian at Colombia University, but at the age of nineteen he left for Paris, where a meeting with guitarist Mickey Baker focused his interest in blues guitar. When he later moved to Sweden, Bibb found a creative environment which took him back to Greenwich Village during the heyday of the folk revival. Settling in Stockholm, Bibb immersed himself in pre-war blues and continued to write and perform.
The album Good Stuff was released in 1997, and led to Bibb signing to the British based Code Blue label. Eric's only release on Code Blue was Me to You, featuring appearances from some of Bibb's personal heroes in Pops and Mavis Staples, and Taj Mahal (who also worked with Bibb on the Grammy-nominated children's record, Shakin' a Tailfeather). The album furthered Bibb's international reputation and was followed by tours of the U.K., U.S.A., Canada, France, Sweden, and Germany.
In the late 1990s Bibb joined forces with his then manager, Alan Robinson, to form Manhaton Records, in Britain. The albums Home to Me (1999), Roadworks (2000), and Painting Signs (2001) followed, as did another Opus 3 release, Just Like Love.
Stagolee
Eric Bibb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can arrest everybody, but cruel Stagolee
Talking about the bad man, Stagolee
Billy de Lyons told Stagolee please don't take my life
I've got two children and a darling loving wife
Told the bad man oh Stagolee
You done stole my fine Stetson and I'm bound to take your life
Said the bad man oh Stagolee
Boom boom, boom boom, went that Forty-four
And then I spied Billy, he was lying on the floor
Talking about that man oh cruel Stagolee
You know, Stagolee shot Billy
Shot that boy so bad
The bullet went through Billy
Broke the bartender's looking glass
What a bad man, talking cruel Satgolee
Talking about that that bad man, oh cruel Stagolee
Gentleman of the jury what you think of that
Stagolee shot Billy 'bout a five dollar hat
Talking about that bad man, oh cruel Stagolee
Standing at the gallows had his head way up high
________ and killed him, was glad to see him die
Talk about the bad man oh cruel Stagolee
Talking about that bad bad bad man, oh cruel Stagolee
The song "Stagolee" by Eric Bibb is a retelling of a famous murder ballad that dates back to the late 19th century. The song tells the story of a man named Stagolee, who shoots and kills a man named Billy de Lyons over a Stetson hat. The song speaks about how the police are unable to arrest Stagolee, even though he was responsible for the murder of Billy. The lyrics further reveal that Stagolee was a bad man, who did not care about Billy's family and children.
The song conveys a clear message about the terrible actions and consequences that come out of greed and violence. It highlights the dangers of pursuing material possessions and resorting to violence to obtain them. The story of Stagolee is a powerful symbol of how desire and greed can corrupt the human soul and inevitably lead to great harm to oneself and others.
Line by Line Meaning
Police officer, how can it be
You can arrest everybody, but cruel Stagolee
Talking about the bad man, Stagolee
The police officer is powerless against the cruelty of Stagolee, who is a notorious bad man
Billy de Lyons told Stagolee please don't take my life
I've got two children and a darling loving wife
Told the bad man oh Stagolee
Billy de Lyons begged for mercy, citing his two children and loving wife as reasons why Stagolee should spare his life
What I care about your children, darling loving wife
You done stole my fine Stetson and I'm bound to take your life
Said the bad man oh Stagolee
Stagolee disregards Billy's pleas and insists on taking his life for stealing his hat
Boom boom, boom boom, went that Forty-four
And then I spied Billy, he was lying on the floor
Talking about that man oh cruel Stagolee
Stagolee shot Billy with a .44, killing him instantly
You know, Stagolee shot Billy
Shot that boy so bad
The bullet went through Billy
Broke the bartender's looking glass
What a bad man, talking cruel Satgolee
Talking about that that bad man, oh cruel Stagolee
Stagolee's bullet not only killed Billy but also shattered the bartender's mirror, adding to his already feared reputation as a cruel bad man
Gentleman of the jury what you think of that
Stagolee shot Billy 'bout a five dollar hat
Talking about that bad man, oh cruel Stagolee
Stagolee is put on trial for killing Billy over a trivial five-dollar hat, highlighting his disregard for human life
Standing at the gallows had his head way up high
________ and killed him, was glad to see him die
Talk about the bad man oh cruel Stagolee
Talking about that bad bad bad man, oh cruel Stagolee
Stagolee is unrepentant at his execution and someone in the crowd is glad to see him die, emphasizing the public's hatred and fear of him as a bad man
Writer(s): Eric Charles Bibb
Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.