Jesse Colin Young got his start as a solo act on the folk circuits of Boston and New York and had already cut a couple of unsuccessful albums before deciding to form a band with guitarist Jerry Corbitt. After a failed single called "My Babe", they hired aspiring jazz drummer Joe Bauer and guitarist/pianist Lowell Levinger III, better known simply as "Banana". Young began playing bass when several candidates-- including Felix Pappalardi and Harvey Brooks (later of The Electric Flag)--proved incompatible, and the quartet took the name 'Youngbloods' from the singer's second solo album.
The group was eventually selected as the house band at New York's famed Cafe Au Go Go and established itself as a leading folk rock/good time attraction. Their sound would temper their blues and jugband influences with gentle California psychedelia, particularly after they moved to the San Francisco Bay area.
While Young was always the focal point of the band, their first two albums also had songwriting contributions from Corbitt. Their first single, Grizzly Bear, was a local hit. Their second attempt, Get Together, didn't do much better when it was first released. This Dino Valenti song had previously been recorded by the Jefferson Airplane, but The Youngbloods' slow, soulful interpretation of "Get Together" was definitive. The record faded quickly but suddenly rocketed to the Top 10 when it was re-released in 1969 after being used in a television public service ad. The tune was subsequently adopted as a counterculture anthem.
By that time, Corbitt had left. The Youngbloods, reduced to a trio, were living in Marin County, CA. 1969's Elephant Mountain was produced by country artist Charlie Daniels. Reflecting the mellowing influence of San Francisco psychedelia, it was their best effort, featuring some of Young's best songs. They released a few more albums in the early '70s (some live), but on these, the mellow California rock sound had begun to turn lame and wimpy.
Further albums by Bauer, Levinger and Young were marred by inconsistency. A friend from the Boston days, Michael Kane, joined the band in the spring of 1971, but they split the following year when Young left the band. Levinger, Bauer and Kane continued as Banana And The Bunch, but this occasional venture subsequently folded.
Jesse Colin Young went on to have a long and moderately successful career as a solo singer-songwriter.
Stagger Lee
The Youngbloods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the leaves came tumblin' down.
1 2 3 4, 1.
I was standin' on the corner when I heard my bull dog bark
He was barkin' at the two men who was gamblin' in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy, two men who gambled late
‘Oh now, Stagger Lee’ - cried Billy - ‘I can't let you go with that’
‘You have won all my money and my brand-new Stetson hat’
Oh now, Stagger Lee went home, he got afraid his .44
He said : ‘I'm goin' to the ballroom just to pay that debt I owe’.
Go now, go.
Oh now, Stagger Lee went to the ballroom and he stood behind the door
He said : ‘Nobody moves’ - and he pulled his .44
‘Yeah now, Stagger Lee’ - cried Billy - ‘oh, please, don't take my life’
‘I've got three little children and a very sickly wife’.
Yeah now, Stagger Lee he shot Billy, yeah, you know, he shot that poor boy so bad
That a bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender's bar.
(Go, Stagger Lee)
(Go, Stagger Lee)
The Youngbloods’s song Stagger Lee is a ballad that tells a story of a confrontation between two men, Stagger Lee and Billy, who gambled and argued over who had won the game. The singer is Stagger Lee, a dangerous and feared man who carries a .44 revolver in his belt. The song creates a vivid picture of a dark and ominous night, with the moon casting an eerie light and the leaves rustling in the wind. The first stanza sets the scene, suggesting that something ominous is about to happen. The second verse introduces Stagger Lee and Billy's gambling, which eventually leads to a violent outcome. The third stanza describes Stagger Lee's decision to go to the ballroom to pay his debt, but his underlying motive is to seek revenge on Billy.
The final stanza describes the tragic ending of the encounter, with Stagger Lee shooting Billy and causing chaos in the bar. Despite the violent act, Stagger Lee is not portrayed as a villain but rather as a tragic figure with a past full of misfortunes. The song is a cautionary tale warning against the dangers of gambling and the culture of violence it can breed.
Line by Line Meaning
The night was dark and the moon was yellow
The setting for the events of the story was at night, with the moon giving off a yellow glow.
And the leaves came tumblin' down.
Autumn was in full swing and the falling leaves were an indication of the season.
I was standin' on the corner when I heard my bull dog bark
The singer was in a particular location where they could hear their dog barking.
He was barkin' at the two men who was gamblin' in the dark
The dog was alerting the artist to the presence of gambling men in the area.
It was Stagger Lee and Billy, two men who gambled late
The two men who were gambling were identified as Stagger Lee and Billy, and they were gambling at an unusual hour.
Stagger Lee threw a seven, Billy swore that he threw eight.
The outcome of the gambling game resulted in Stagger Lee winning, while Billy disputed the outcome with a false claim of having thrown a winning score.
‘Oh now, Stagger Lee’ - cried Billy - ‘I can't let you go with that’
Billy expressed his dissatisfaction with the outcome of the game to Stagger Lee.
‘You have won all my money and my brand-new Stetson hat’
Billy vocalized the specific things he had lost due to the gambling game.
Oh now, Stagger Lee went home, he got afraid his .44
Stagger Lee felt fear and brought his gun home with him.
He said : ‘I'm goin' to the ballroom just to pay that debt I owe’.
Stagger Lee made the decision to go to the ballroom in order to settle his debt with Billy.
Oh now, Stagger Lee went to the ballroom and he stood behind the door
Stagger Lee entered the ballroom and positioned himself behind the door.
He said : ‘Nobody moves’ - and he pulled his .44
Stagger Lee announced his presence and made a threatening gesture, revealing his gun.
‘Yeah now, Stagger Lee’ - cried Billy - ‘oh, please, don't take my life’
Billy begged for his life when confronted by Stagger Lee's gun.
‘I've got three little children and a very sickly wife’.
Billy attempted to appeal to Stagger Lee's humanity by informing him of the people who depended on him.
Yeah now, Stagger Lee he shot Billy, yeah, you know, he shot that poor boy so bad
Despite Billy's plea, Stagger Lee still shot him in a fatal manner.
That a bullet went through Billy and broke the bartender's bar.
The force of the gunshot was so strong that the bullet shattered the bar that the bartender was positioned behind.
(Go, Stagger Lee)
The phrase ‘Go, Stagger Lee’ was used as a parting exclamation, possibly congratulating him on having settled his debt or encouraging him to leave the scene of the crime.
(Go, Stagger Lee)
The phrase ‘Go, Stagger Lee’ was used as a parting exclamation, possibly congratulating him on having settled his debt or encouraging him to leave the scene of the crime.
Contributed by Emma N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.