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Stagger Lee
P J Proby Lyrics
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When I heard my bull dog 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 a seven,
tagger lee, said billy,
I cant let you go with that.
You have won all my money,
And my brand-new stetson hat.
tagger lee went home
nd he got his .44.
He said, Im goin to the ballroom
Just to pay that debt I owe.
go, stagger lee
Stagger lee went to the ballroom
And he strolled across the ballroom floor.
He said you did me wrong, billy.
And he pulled his .44.
Stagger lee, said billy,
Oh, please dont take my life!
Ive got three hungry children,
And a very sickly wife.
tagger lee shot billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard
That a bullet went through billy
And broke the bartenders bar.
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
The lyrics to P J Proby's song Stagger Lee tell the story of two men, Stagger Lee and Billy, who were gambling late in the dark. Stagger Lee threw a seven, and Billy swore that he threw eight. Billy had lost all of his money and his brand-new stetson hat to Stagger Lee, but as Stagger Lee was about to leave, Billy protested that he couldn't let him go with that. Stagger Lee went home and got his .44 gun and said he was going back to the ballroom to pay the debt that he owed, implying that he was going to kill Billy.
Stagger Lee then went to the ballroom and confronted Billy, telling him that he did him wrong and pulling out his gun. Billy pleaded with him not to take his life, saying he had three hungry children and a sickly wife. Stagger Lee ignored him and shot him, so hard that a bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender's bar. The repeated chorus of "Go, Stagger Lee" seems to be a call to action, encouraging Stagger Lee to take revenge on Billy.
The lyrics to Stagger Lee are based on a true story about a murder that occurred in St. Louis, Missouri in 1895. The victim, Billy Lyons, was shot and killed by Lee Shelton, also known as Stagger Lee, during a dispute over a hat. The incident became the subject of numerous folk songs and blues songs over the years, with various versions of the story appearing in different songs.
Line by Line Meaning
I was standin on the corner
The singer was hanging around taking it easy.
When I heard my bull dog bark.
The singer's dog alerted him to something unusual.
He was barkin at the two men
The dog was barking at two guys.
Who were gamblin in the dark.
The guys were playing games out of sight.
It was stagger lee and billy,
The men were named Stagger Lee and Billy.
Two men who gambled late.
Stagger Lee and Billy were late-night gamblers.
Stagger lee threw a seven,
Stagger Lee rolled a seven in the game.
Billy swore that he threw eight.
Billy claimed he rolled an eight.
Stagger lee, said billy,
Billy addressed Stagger Lee.
I cant let you go with that.
Billy couldn't allow Stagger Lee's win to stand.
You have won all my money,
Stagger Lee won all of Billy's money.
And my brand-new stetson hat.
Stagger Lee also won Billy's new hat.
Stagger lee went home
Stagger Lee went back to his house.
nd he got his .44.
Stagger Lee retrieved his .44 caliber gun.
He said, Im goin to the ballroom
Stagger Lee decided to go to the local ballroom.
Just to pay that debt I owe.
He was determined to settle his score with Billy.
Stagger lee went to the ballroom
Stagger Lee arrived at the ballroom.
And he strolled across the ballroom floor.
Stagger Lee walked casually inside.
He said you did me wrong, billy.
He confronted Billy about the game.
And he pulled his .44.
Stagger Lee threatened Billy with his gun.
Stagger lee, said billy,
Billy spoke to Stagger Lee.
Oh, please dont take my life!
Billy begged for his life.
Ive got three hungry children,
Billy mentioned his three hungry kids.
And a very sickly wife.
He also had a sick wife.
tagger lee shot billy
Stagger Lee shot Billy.
Oh, he shot that poor boy so hard
Stagger Lee's shot was powerful.
That a bullet went through billy
The bullet travelled through Billy's body.
And broke the bartenders bar.
The shot even caused collateral damage to the bar.
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
People cheered for Stagger Lee to leave.
Go, stagger lee, go, stagger lee!
The cheers intensified as he was leaving.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY GARCIA, ROBERT HUNTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
rontenn1
He's 81 now & still brilliant. Best voice I've ever heard!
sherilyn1977
Saw him singing "Stagger Lee" in Australia in 2004 when he was 65. Wow, he puts a lot of energy into that song. How his legs can move on stage. My Goodness! I'm only 49 and my legs are too buggered to do what his legs can do. Love You P.J.
Michael Parsons
What a great song. Nice to see a recent picture of Jim included. He is a legend.
mndandy
Jimmy Page on guitar, upstaged by the completely insane machine gun drumming of Bobby Graham! A match made in heaven for the always over the top Proby....
Kelso Whirlligig
love his version, damn that boy can sing
rontenn1
Proby.....a real living legend! may he go on & on! Ron
sherilyn1977
Great song. Very well put together slide show to accompany music.
Pipkin Hopkins
PJ is one of my heroes and this version kix arse ha ha !!!!
Dave Wayne
hes on tour at the minute, check his website.
strandwolf
This has similarities in arrangement to the Isley Brothers version.