I love this song, but I confess I’ve never noticed the lyrics are actually a variant of the Stagger Lee mythology. That’s kind of embarrassing, because they say the name right there in the song. Reading the lyrics, it’s pretty clear this is the familiar story of Stagger Lee, the man who shot his friend because he was playing keep-away with Stack’s hat.

Along with House of the Rising Sun, Stagger Lee is one of the most famous blues songs ever. It’s been recorded a gazillion times, and featured in countless news stories including one on NPR and this comprehensive story in The Guardian. In the Clash’s version (according to Wikipedia it’s actually a Rulers cover), Stagger is a working class hero, struggling for dignity and respect.

Stagger Lee throwed seven
Billy said that he throwed eight
So Billy said, hey Stagger! I’m gonna make my big attack
I’m gonna have to leave my knife in your back

Why do you try to cheat?
And trample people under your feet
Don’t you know it is wrong?
To cheat the trying man
Don’t you know it is wrong?
To cheat the trying man
So you better stop, it is the wrong ‘em boyo

You lie, steal, cheat and deceit
In such a small, small game
Don’t you know it is wrong
To cheat the trying man
Don’t you know it is wrong
To cheat the trying man
You’d better stop, it is the Wrong ‘Em Boyo

Billy Boy has been shot
And Stagger Lee’s come out on top
Don’t you know it is wrong
To cheat the trying man
Don’t you know it is wrong
To cheat Stagger man
You’d better stop
It is the Wrong ‘Em Boyo

In the more familiar versions by Lloyd Price and Mississippi John Hurt, Stagger Lee is a “bad man.” Here are the lyrics from Hurt’s version:

Billy DeLyon told Stagolee, “Please don’t take my life
I got two little babes and a darling, loving wife”
That bad man, oh cruel Stagolee

“What’d I care about your two little babes and darling, loving wife?
You done stole my Stetson hat, I’m bound to take your life.”
That bad man, oh cruel Stagolee

Boom boom, boom boom,
Went the forty-four.
Well when I spied Billy DeLyon
He’s lyin’ down on the floor.
That bad man, oh cruel Stagolee

Gentlemens of the Jury,
What you think of that?
Stagolee killed Billy DeLyon ’bout a five-dollar Stetson hat. That bad man, oh cruel Stagolee

Standin’ on the gallows, head way up high
At twelve o’clock, they killed him, they’s all glad to see him die
That bad man, oh cruel Stagolee

I’ll leave you with a more unorthodox “bad man” version from R.L. Burnside, which influenced the Samuel L. Jackson performance of the song in Black Snake Moan.

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