The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
It was back in '32 when times were hard
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, he had payments on that
Stagger Lee
His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And she told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee
So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
'Til he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
To Stagger Lee
He said, "Well bartender, it's a plain to see
I'm the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Mr. Stagger Lee
Well the barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day"
Mr Stagger Lee
Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Known to make more money than any bitch in town
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she's starting to flirt
Oh, with Stagger Lee
She saw the barkeep, said, "Oh God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Mr. Stagger Lee
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in
Mr. Stagger Lee"
"I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Said Stagger Lee
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Said Stagger Lee
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in, he says, "You must be
The mad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
I'm Stagger Lee
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
Then suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Said Stagger Lee
Well Billy Dilly dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards
Stagger Lee
He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford, he had payments on that
Stagger Lee
His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And she told him, "Never ever come back no more"
Stagger Lee
So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud
'Til he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood
Stagger Lee
He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"
The barkeeper said, "No, and I don't give a good goddamn"
To Stagger Lee
He said, "Well bartender, it's a plain to see
I'm the bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
Mr. Stagger Lee
Well the barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherfucking asses like you every day"
Mr Stagger Lee
Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherfucking head
Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Known to make more money than any bitch in town
She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she's starting to flirt
Oh, with Stagger Lee
She saw the barkeep, said, "Oh God, he can't be dead!"
Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"
She said, "You ain't look like you scored in quite a time
Why not come to my pad? It won't cost you a dime"
Mr. Stagger Lee
"But there's something I have to say before you begin
You have to be gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in
Mr. Stagger Lee"
"I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"
Said Stagger Lee
"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"
Said Stagger Lee
Just then Billy Dilly rolls in, he says, "You must be
The mad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"
I'm Stagger Lee
"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
Then suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"
Said Stagger Lee
Well Billy Dilly dropped down and slobbered on his head
And Stag filled him full of lead
Oh yeah
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