This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
There are various recordings and various spellings (stackolee, stagolee, stagger lee, stack a lee) of this song going back decades. With it's explicit lyrics, Nick Cave's version most closely resembles 'The Great Stack-a-Lee' by Snatch and The Poontangs (a band led by Johnny Otis), in 1969. The line "I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole" is actually from another Snatch and The Poontangs song called 'Two-time Slim'.
The Great Stack-a-Lee: cowbell.fm/track/158068-snatch-and-the-poontangs-the-great-stack-a-lee
Two-Time Slim: youtube.com/watch
I didn't think I could like this song more, then I saw the video. Nick Cave does the best homoerotic out, and still manages to look incredibly bangin' in a pink shirt.
Stagger Lee songs are rumored to have come to America on slave ships- I've read that he's been killing poor Billy for centuries and centuries.
I've also read, and agree with, that the overblown violence and profanity in Nick's take on Stag is a commentary/parody on gangster rap. Anyway, this is my second favorite Stagger Lee song, the best imo is The Clash's Wrong "Em Boyo.
The Clash's song 'Wrong em boyo' is a cover of the Jamaican band The Rulers, their song is 'Wrong Embryo'. Well worth a listen, it's the better of the two I feel.
@MammaBird It's nothing like this version but Lloyd Price’s version is pretty damn good, still, and has gotta be the most well-known version (not that that is terribly important, just my view from here).
@MammaBird It's nothing like this version but Lloyd Price’s version is pretty damn good, still, and has gotta be the most well-known version (not that that is terribly important, just my view from here). <br /> <br /> Also, the Pacific Gas & Electric version, which I’m pretty sure is never heard of until Tarantino’s ‘Death Proof’, is pretty excellent. Not as straightforwardly vulgar as Cave’s version, but of the versions I have heard, it takes a similar view of what a BAD MFer ol’ Stack be…at the end of the song, Stack’s now In charge of hell, cuz he just TOOK IT from Satan, and Stack suggests that, for all eternity, Satan stick him with his pitchfork, and Stack will forever shoot Satan lol
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"
Nick Cave's best line
I don't usually leave blatant comments on lyric pages, but I have to for "Stagger Lee". This song kicks ass all the way through. Nick Cave is a storyteller.
Its not really based on the 50's song Stagger Lee, but its based on an old folk song, which the 50's Stagger Lee took inspiration from.
It is very rappy, I love that! Cave is a brilliant satirist, and if there's any good place to take the piss out the rap phenomenon, it'd be Murder Ballads. It's got a fantastic bass line, metronomic rhyme-droppin', and of course, all that fucking profanity. Absolutely genius. One of my favorite songs he's done!
This is possibly my favourite piece of Nick Cave poetry of all his work. I wish I could say 'I'm the bad mothafucker called Sagger Lee' like Nick does. It would make me a real man, I reckon.
great song....good times.
This song is SORT of based on a 50's song also called Stagger Lee.