Stagger Lee
Jamie Oldaker Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The night was clear
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
Who were gamblin' in the dark

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

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

🎸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

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