Stag-O-Lee
Professor Longhair & The Meters Lyrics
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Boys I heard that fool dog bark
He was barkin' at the two men
Who were gamblin in the dark
It was Stagolee & Billy Lion
Boys, they were gamblin that early day
Billy Lion told him the easy way
Stagolee lost all his money
Lost his new cadilac
He said I believe your cheatin'
Don't be here when I get back
Stagolee went home
& he knocked up on his woman's door
He said wake up little Bertha baby
& hand me my forty-four
You know Bertha rose out of bed screamin
She was lookin him dead smack in the eye
She said come on in honey
I can see some poor man's gonna die
Then Stagolee told Bertha
That he had lost his new cadilic
But he believed Billy was cheatin
& she knew he wouldn't go for that
Stagolee went back on the corner
& stood up in the barroom door
& he said don't nobody move
Cuz I got me my forty-four
Stagolee cried Billy
& he shot the poor boy so fast
The bullet went through Billy
& it broke the bartenders glass
Then Billy Lion started screamin
I heard him say Stagolee don't take my life
You know I got two little children
& a poor little old sickly wife
Stagolee told Billy
Yeah I know you got a cute little boy & girl
If you want to see your family billy
You'll have to meet 'em in another world
The song Stagolee tells the tale of Stagolee and his friend Billy Lion who are gambling in the dark. Stagolee loses all his money and his new cadillac and accuses Billy Lion of cheating. He then goes home to his woman and asks for his forty-four gun. Bertha, Stagolee's woman, begs him not to kill anyone, but Stagolee goes back to the bar with his gun and demands that nobody move. When Billy Lion begs for his life, Stagolee shoots him and tells him that he can meet his family in another world.
The lyrics of the song are a depiction of the violent culture of the time and the perception of justice by some African Americans. Stagolee is portrayed as an antihero who takes the law into his own hands and is praised for his actions. The song has been covered by many artists, such as Mississippi John Hurt, Fats Domino, and Wilson Pickett among others. Although the song doesn't have a clear origin or author, it is considered part of the American folk tradition and has been passed on from generation to generation.
Line by Line Meaning
It was early early one mornin'
The incident that the song narrates happened early in the morning
Boys I heard that fool dog bark
The singer heard a dog barking
He was barkin' at the two men
The dog was barking at two men
Who were gamblin in the dark
The two men were gambling in the dark
It was Stagolee & Billy Lion
The two men were named Stagolee and Billy Lion
Boys, they were gamblin that early day
The two men were gambling that morning
Yeah, they tossed up that seven
They played a game where they had to toss up a seven
Billy Lion told him the easy way
Billy Lion suggested an easy way to win
Stagolee lost all his money
Stagolee lost all his money in the game
Lost his new cadilac
Stagolee lost his new Cadillac car
He said I believe your cheatin'
Stagolee accused Billy Lion of cheating
Don't be here when I get back
Stagolee asked Billy Lion to leave before he returned
Stagolee went home
Stagolee went back to his house
& he knocked up on his woman's door
Stagolee knocked on his woman's door
He said wake up little Bertha baby
Stagolee woke his woman, Bertha up
& hand me my forty-four
Stagolee asked Bertha to give him his gun
You know Bertha rose out of bed screamin
Bertha woke up screaming
She was lookin him dead smack in the eye
Bertha looked directly at Stagolee
She said come on in honey
Bertha invited Stagolee inside
I can see some poor man's gonna die
Bertha had a premonition that someone was going to die
Then Stagolee told Bertha
Stagolee told Bertha about his loss to Billy
That he had lost his new cadilic
Stagolee mentioned losing his new Cadillac to Bertha
But he believed Billy was cheatin
Stagolee reiterated his belief that Billy Lion cheated
& she knew he wouldn't go for that
Bertha knew that cheating was not something Stagolee would tolerate
Stagolee went back on the corner
Stagolee went back to the street corner where the game took place
& stood up in the barroom door
Stagolee stood at the door of a bar
& he said don't nobody move
Stagolee ordered everyone not to move
Cuz I got me my forty-four
He mentioned having his gun
Stagolee cried Billy
Stagolee aimed at Billy
& he shot the poor boy so fast
Stagolee shot Billy quickly
The bullet went through Billy
The bullet went through Billy Lion's body
& it broke the bartenders glass
The bullet broke the glass of the bartender's counter
Then Billy Lion started screamin
Billy Lion started screaming
I heard him say Stagolee don't take my life
Billy pleaded with Stagolee not to kill him
You know I got two little children
Billy Lion mentioned his two children
& a poor little old sickly wife
Billy Lion had a wife who was sick
Stagolee told Billy
Stagolee responded to Billy Lion
Yeah I know you got a cute little boy & girl
Stagolee acknowledged Billy's children
If you want to see your family billy
Stagolee gave an ominous warning to Billy
You'll have to meet 'em in another world
Stagolee implied that Billy would have to meet his family in the afterlife
Lyrics © Regard Music
Written by: HENRY ROELAND BYRD, N UNKNOWN WRITER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind