"Stagolee" Lesson
Added 2023-05-12 13:00:03 +0000 UTCMost of my lyrics for "Stagolee" (Stagger Lee, Stack O'Lee, Stack-a-Lee) come from a recording of Mississippi John Hurt. My banjo arrangement is from George Gibson of Knott County, Kentucky, who also uses this melody for "Black Bottom Blues."
Shelton "Stag" Lee was a notorious pimp who, on Christmas Eve 1895, shot and killed Billy Lyons in a St. Louis saloon. A stolen Stetson hat allegedly caused the incident. Lee did go to prison, but he was never executed.
My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell "The Luscomb" banjo tuned ~ fB♭FB♭C (two frets below) gCGCD.
Stag Lee and Bill Lyons went out a gambling,
Stag Lee said he rolled seven Billy swore that it was ten
Listen all you people Stag was a real bad man
Billy was hanging 'round just a drinking with his friends,
When the barroom door swung open and Stag Lee walked in
And the women started crying When they seen he had his gun in his hands
Billy fell to his knees crying Stag don't take me life,
Think about my two little children and my darling loving wife
He said I don't care about your children and I don't give a damn for your wife,
You've stolen my good Stetson now I'm bound to take your life
Stag Lee shot Billy he shot him with his forty-four,
Billy fell back from the table crying Stag don't shoot me no more
They were sitting down in the court room Stag Lee did cuss,
The judge said let's kill him before he kills all of us
He was standing up on the gallows his head was held up high,
It was twelve o'clock when they killed him they was all glad to see him die
Stag Lee said to the Devil come on let's have some fun,
Go run and get your pitchfork I'll go get my forty-one
Download 8.5" x 11" Tablature 👇
Comments
Thank you so much for posting this lesson! I love this melody and have been wanting to learn it for a while.
Jesus-David Jerez-Gomez
2023-05-17 01:09:32 +0000 UTCProlly a six shooter vs a clip :)...cock that hammer back son
Coleman
2023-05-12 20:31:15 +0000 UTC
