James Oldaker was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. One of the first bands that he was a member of was called the Rogues Five, who saw regional success in the mid 1960s and opened for other more popular bands such as the Doors at the Tulsa Convention Center.[3] Oldaker and the Rogues Five were a regular band on local Tulsa television station KOTV's teen dance show: Dance Party]
After a stint in Bob Seger's band (on the album Back in '72), he then was with Leon Russell's band when he was asked by Eric Clapton to participate in the recording of 461 Ocean Boulevard. Oldaker remained a member of Clapton's studio and touring bands through 1979, when the entire band was dismissed. Oldaker would return to the Clapton band in 1983, playing on Clapton's Behind the Sun album, released in 1985, and performing with Clapton at Live Aid that same year, before leaving in 1986.[2] Oldaker appears on the blues side of the live recording 24 Nights from 1990 and 1991. Not long after leaving Clapton's band, Oldaker briefly became a member of Kiss guitarist Ace Frehley's project, Frehley's Comet, appearing on the 1988 album Second Sighting. He was also a onetime member of the alt country band, The Tractors.
Oldaker recorded with musicians such as the Bellamy Brothers, Asleep at the Wheel, Peter Frampton, Stephen Stills, Leon Russell, Ace Frehley, Freddie King, and the Bee Gees. In August 2005, Oldaker released Mad Dogs & Okies on Concord Records, a collection celebrating the music and musicians of Oklahoma, which he produced. Collaborators include Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, J. J. Cale, Willie Nelson, Ronnie Dunn, and Bonnie Bramlett. Mad Dogs & Okies/Survivors was re-released in 2019 under Jamokie Productions
Stagger Lee
Jamie Oldaker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the moon was yellow
And the leaves
Came tumbling down
I was standin' on the corner
When I heard my bull dog bark
He was barkin' at the two men
Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw a seven
Billy swore that he threw an eight
Stagger Lee told Billy
I can't let you go with that
You have won all my money
And my brand new Stetson hat
Stagger Lee went home
And he got his forty four
Said, I'm gonna to the bar
Just to pay that debt I owe
Blew them, six
Stagger Lee, Stagger Lee
Stagger Lee went to the bar room
And he stood across the bar room door
Said, now, nobody move
Then he pulled his forty four
Stagger Lee, cried Billy
Ohh, please don't take my life
I've got three little children
And a very sickly wife
Well, Stagger Lee shot Billy
Ohh, he shot that poor boy so bad
So the bullet came through Billy
And it broke the bartender's glass
Hate that thing on most hands
Stagger Lee, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
The lyrics to Jamie Oldaker's song "Stagger Lee" tell the story of two men, Stagger Lee and Billy, who are gambling one night. Stagger Lee throws a seven and Billy swears he threw an eight, leading to an argument between the two. Stagger Lee tells Billy he can't let him go with the win, as Billy has won all of his money and his brand new Stetson hat. Stagger Lee leaves and retrieves his forty-four, intending to go to the bar and pay the debt he owes. He stands across the bar room door and announces to everyone that he won't let anyone move, before ultimately shooting and killing Billy. Billy begs for mercy, telling Stagger Lee that he has three little children and a sickly wife, but it doesn't seem to sway Stagger Lee's decision.
Line by Line Meaning
The night was clear
It was a cloudless night
And the moon was yellow
The full moon casted a yellow light over the scene
And the leaves
Autumn had arrived
Came tumbling down
The leaves were falling to the ground
I was standin' on the corner
The artist was on a street corner
When I heard my bull dog bark
The singer's dog barked
He was barkin' at the two men
The dog was barking at two men
Who were gamblin' in the dark
The men were playing a game of chance in the darkness
Stagger Lee and Billy
The two men were named Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
The two men were gambling late at night
Stagger Lee threw a seven
Stagger Lee won by rolling a seven on the dice
Billy swore that he threw an eight
Billy claimed he won by rolling an eight on the dice
Stagger Lee told Billy
Stagger Lee said to Billy
I can't let you go with that
Stagger Lee couldn't allow Billy to keep the money and hat he won
You have won all my money
Billy won all of Stagger Lee's money
And my brand new Stetson hat
Billy also won Stagger Lee's brand new Stetson hat
Stagger Lee went home
Stagger Lee went back to his house
And he got his forty four
Stagger Lee retrieved his .44 caliber gun
Said, I'm gonna to the bar
Stagger Lee decided to go to the bar
Just to pay that debt I owe
Stagger Lee intended to settle his gambling debt with Billy
Blew them, six
Stagger Lee shot six rounds from his gun
Stagger Lee went to the bar room
Stagger Lee arrived at the bar
And he stood across the bar room door
Stagger Lee positioned himself at the door to the bar
Said, now, nobody move
Stagger Lee demanded that nobody move
Then he pulled his forty four
Stagger Lee drew his gun from his waistband
Stagger Lee, cried Billy
Billy called out to Stagger Lee
Ohh, please don't take my life
Billy begged for his life
I've got three little children
Billy had three young children
And a very sickly wife
Billy's wife was very ill
Well, Stagger Lee shot Billy
Stagger Lee fired his gun at Billy
Ohh, he shot that poor boy so bad
Stagger Lee shot Billy very badly
So the bullet came through Billy
The bullet passed through Billy's body
And it broke the bartender's glass
The bullet shattered the glass behind the bar
Hate that thing on most hands
The artist dislikes guns
Go, Stagger Lee, go, Stagger Lee
The refrain of the song encouraging Stagger Lee to flee the scene
Go, Stagger Lee
More encouragement for Stagger Lee to leave
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY GARCIA, ROBERT HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
🎸Phenix Returns 🔥
Jamie is a great drummer with a great sound ! and Tony maestro
i'm bored lol
RIP Jamie !
🎸Phenix Returns 🔥
amazing !è!
Rev Eddro
RIP Tony
🎸Phenix Returns 🔥
the magic of the M7 chords
Ross F
beauty.of.song.great.jj.cale.great.tony.jo.white.
lyle anderson
JJ tune good job Tony J White
Miss Oli
I miss my dad so much
Ross F
forgot.great.jamie.oldaker
Dean Autry Sr
RIP Tony