YouLyric
Sign in
Sign up for free
Stagalee
Share
Nick Cave & The Bad Seed
What's this song about?
Generate meaning
1
Three traditional versions of the song from Murder Ballads. Nick's version is also available. Further details (and the actual book Nick edited from) are also available.
2
Stagolee
3
Bad man Stagalee when he bad,
4
He bad wid a gun
5
Stagalee, Stagalee --- you must-a been a sinner
6
Ev'ry- Christmas eve they give Stagalee a dinner
7
Bad man Stagalee, when he bad
8
He bad wid a gun.
9
Don't you remember you remember
10
One dark stormy night
11
Stagalee and Bill O. Lion
12
Dey had dat noble fight.
13
Bill O. Lion tole Stagalee
14
Please don't take my life
15
I got three little children
16
And a dear lil' lovin'wife
17
Stagalee told Billy O. Lion
18
I don't care for your three lil' children
19
Or even your lovin' wife
20
You stole mah Stetson hat
21
And I'm goin to take yo'life
22
Stagalee pulled out his forty-four
23
It went boom boom boom
24
It wasn't long' fore Bill O. Lion
25
WVere layin'on de flo'
26
Stagalee's woman she went to her boss
27
Said, "Please give me some change.
28
Dey got my baby in de station house
29
An'mah business mus'be'ranged. "
30
Stagalee asked his woman
31
"How much change has you got?"
32
She run her han'in her stocking feet
33
And pulled out a hundred spot.
34
She had to get mo'money.
35
From Southern Folk Ballads, McNeill Collected from Vera Hall, AL 1947
36
Stagolee
37
Stagolee was a bad man,
38
Ev'rybody knows.
39
Spent one hundred dollars
40
Just to buy him a suit of dothes.
41
He was a bad man
42
That mean old Stagolee
43
Stagolee shot Billy de Lyons
44
What do you think about that?
45
Shot him down in cold blood
46
Because he stole his Stetson hat;
47
He was a bad man
48
That mean old Stagolee
49
Billy de Lyons said, Stagolee
50
Please don't take my life
51
I've got two little babes
52
And a darling, loving wife;
53
You are a bad man
54
You mean old Stagolee.
55
What do I care about your two little babes,
56
Your darling loving wife?,
57
You done stole my Stetson hat
58
I'm bound to take your life;
59
He was a bad man,
60
That mean old Stagolee.
61
The judge said, Stagolee,
62
What you doing in here?,
63
You done shot Mr. Billy de Lyons,
64
You going to die in the electric chair;
65
He was a bad man
66
That mean old Stagolee.
67
Twelve o'clock they killed him
68
Head reached up high
69
Last thing that poor boy said,
70
"My six-shooter never lied."
71
He was a bad man,
72
That mean old Stagolee.
73
Stagolee
74
chorus: Stagolee, Stagolee, he's the meanest man in town
75
When that boy starts gamblin', better lay your money down
76
Down in New Orleans where they got that Lyon's Club
77
Every step you step you're steppin' in Billy de Lyon's blood
78
I remember one September, on a cold and stormy night
79
Billy de Lyon and Stagolee, Lord, they had a great big fight
80
Billy shot a seven, and Stack he said he'd pass
81
Stack said to Billy de Lyon, "Brother,
82
You done shot your last"
83
The woman asked the sheriff, said "How can this be?
84
You got all them bad men, but you can't get Stagolee"
85
Deputies took their badges and they laid them on the shelf
86
"If you want to get that bad man, you get him by yourself"
87
Now send for the policemen, a hundred thousand come
88
Loaded down with rifles and a great big Gatling gun
89
On Friday we condemned him, the judge he lowered his head
90
On Saturday we hanged him, I was glad to see him dead
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Henry Lee ft...
330 views
0 meanings
Go Pro
Unlimited meanings ยท Priority generation
Upgrade