The most well know versions of this song are Mississippi John Hurt's 1928, and this version, by Lloyd Price. Lloyd's version was an updated R&B version for the 1950s.
Released in 1959, parts of this song are used in the 1967 track Wrong'em Boyo by The Rulers, as well as 1979 cover Wrong 'em Boyo by The Clash.
Stagger Lee has been covered by hundreds of artists in a variety of ways from 1927 to today. Versions can be found by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Huey Lewis and the News, Grateful Dead, Taj Mahal and many others. Many artists cover the original Frank Hutchensen version, others cover Lloyd Price's version, and others still create entirely new versions of the song.
-
Stagger Lee
Lloyd Price Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down
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
Billy swore that he threw eight
Stagger Lee (oh Stagger Lee) told Billy, (oh Stagger Lee)
I can't (oh Stagger Lee) let you go with that (oh Stagger Lee)
You have won all (oh Stagger Lee) my money and my brand new (oh Stagger Lee)
(oh Stagger Lee) Stetson hat (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee (oh Stagger Lee) went home (oh Stagger Lee)
And he got his forty-four (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
Said, I'm goin' to (oh Stagger Lee) the barroom just to pay that (oh Stagger Lee)
Debt I owe (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee went to the barroom
And he stood across the barroom door
He said, nobody move and he pulled his
Forty-four, Ooh
Stagger Lee, (oh Stagger Lee) cried Billy (oh Stagger Lee)
Oh, please (oh Stagger Lee) don't take my life (oh Stagger Lee)
I've got three little (oh Stagger Lee) children and a very (oh Stagger Lee)
Sickly wife (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee (oh Stagger Lee) shot Billy (oh Stagger Lee)
Oh, he shot (oh Stagger Lee) that poor boy so bad (oh Stagger Lee)
'Till the bullet (oh Stagger Lee) came through Billy (oh Stagger Lee)and it broke the bar (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
Tender's glass (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
The lyrics to Lloyd Price's song "Stagger Lee" tells a story about a confrontation between two men, Stagger Lee and Billy, who were gambling late at night in the dark. Stagger Lee was losing the game and he became angry when Billy claimed to have thrown eight and won his money and his brand new Stetson hat. Stagger Lee pulls out his forty-four and shoots Billy, killing him. Billy pleads with Stagger Lee not to take his life, but it is too late. As a result of the shooting, the bartender's glass was broken.
The lyrics of this song, although simple and straightforward, was a commentary on the gang culture prevalent in America during the 19th and 20th centuries. The characters described in the song are real-life figures, and the story of Stagger Lee is a well-known folk tale that has been recounted in many different forms. The lyrics effectively convey the sense of violence and brutality that were commonly associated with gang culture and highlights the idea of revenge as a driving force.
Line by Line Meaning
The night was clear
The atmosphere was conducive for leisure and fun.
And the moon was yellow
The moon was shining bright with a yellowish color.
And the leaves came tumbling down
The leaves were falling off the trees, signifying the arrival of autumn.
I was standing on the corner
The artist was on a street corner, observing the events of the night.
When I heard my bulldog bark
The artist's dog alerted him to the commotion caused by the two men gambling.
He was barkin' at the two men who were gamblin'
The dog was drawing attention to the illegal gambling taking place.
In the dark
The gambling took place where there was little or no light.
It was Stagger Lee and Billy
The two men who were gambling were Stagger Lee and Billy.
Two men who gambled late
The men were gambling at a late hour.
Stagger Lee threw seven
Stagger Lee succeeded at the game and threw a score of seven.
Billy swore that he threw eight
Billy claimed he threw a score of eight, beating Stagger Lee.
Stagger Lee (oh Stagger Lee) told Billy, (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee spoke to Billy, addressing him by name.
I can't (oh Stagger Lee) let you go with that (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee was challenged by Billy's victory but could not accept it.
You have won all (oh Stagger Lee) my money and my brand new (oh Stagger Lee)
Billy won all of Stagger Lee's money and a new Stetson hat.
(oh Stagger Lee) Stetson hat (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
The hat was a prized possession of Stagger Lee's.
Stagger Lee (oh Stagger Lee) went home (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee went home, possibly to get his firearm.
And he got his forty-four (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee retrieved his .44 caliber firearm.
Said, I'm goin' to (oh Stagger Lee) the barroom just to pay that (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee intended to go to the barroom to settle his score with Billy.
Debt I owe (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee felt that he owed it to himself to settle the gambling score with Billy.
Stagger Lee went to the barroom
Stagger Lee arrived at the barroom where Billy was.
And he stood across the barroom door
Stagger Lee blocked the entrance to the barroom with his firearm.
He said, nobody move and he pulled his
Stagger Lee warned everyone in the barroom not to move while he revealed his firearm.
Forty-four, Ooh
Stagger Lee had a .44 caliber firearm.
Stagger Lee, (oh Stagger Lee) cried Billy (oh Stagger Lee)
Billy was alarmed at the arrival of Stagger Lee.
Oh, please (oh Stagger Lee) don't take my life (oh Stagger Lee)
Billy pleaded with Stagger Lee not to take his life.
I've got three little (oh Stagger Lee) children and a very (oh Stagger Lee)
Billy had dependents who relied on him for survival.
Sickly wife (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
Billy's wife was ill and depended on him for care.
Stagger Lee (oh Stagger Lee) shot Billy (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee shot Billy with his .44 caliber firearm.
Oh, he shot (oh Stagger Lee) that poor boy so bad (oh Stagger Lee)
Stagger Lee shot Billy so badly that he was fatally wounded.
'Till the bullet (oh Stagger Lee) came through Billy (oh Stagger Lee)and it broke the bar (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) Tender's glass (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee) (oh Stagger Lee)
The bullet went through Billy's body and shattered glass in the barroom.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HAROLD LOGAN, LLOYD PRICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mzlibrathang
That was my father on the drums. I remember meeting Mr. Price, such a lovely man.
@cliffroberts1774
Sherry Turner thats amazing say hi to your father for me
@theironmarshmallowg3932
You’re father is a great drummer
@ProfessorSwing
What a superb drummer !!! What other gigs gig he do? The worldneeds to know! He is one of the reasons I loved this music and became a drummer!
@carlosjames6583
Wow, I am so impressed. You have no idea how much I love this song. Brings back wonderful memories
@philipnorris6542
Nice one, Sherry.
@CayoHueso11
My father is credited as the Sax Soloist on this track " Allen Red Wallace" w/ The Don Costa Orchestra, miss you Pops!
@ashorcat
@Toni Sumblin Outrageous Sax!!!
@TommyBrisbane
How cool to be associated with one of the coolest times in music.
@CayoHueso11
@Harry Lime Thanks Harry, Yeah He Passed in 2013 but he was an awesome Sax player, Toured with some pretty heavy hitters back in the day, he always told great stories about the pioneers of Rock and Roll to me and my siblings...