I have been trying to find the lyrics to JJ's Stagger Lee cover. It seems there are different versions. Anyone have any ideas on where I could find the lyrics or who originally did that version?
The version JJ covers is the Johnny Otis one off of Cold Shot, Snatch and the Poontangs album. I think the only other one that is somewhat similiar is by Nick Cave. Search those and hopefully you have some luck.
I've been wanting to know that for a long time. I remember a "Stagger Lee" song as a kid that was on radio, with a complete different tune (and lyrics, obviously.)
Great question TN Cracka. Thanks for the clues DT.
I've come up with a bit more. There's a site that lists all the versions of Stagger Lee. Geez, there are 229 versions listed. I had no idea! It does not include links to anything, but gives the song title (they vary), name of CD, and year.
Here's the URL: http://www.jass.com/tom/next/stag.html
I couldn't find anything on Johnny's Otis' version, but as DT further said, there is a version by Nick Cave. Here's an exerpt from Wikipedia: "Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, by contrast, present an even more violent and profane version of the song "Stagger Lee" on their 1996 album Murder Ballads. This version retakes a street "toast poem" on Stagolee [6]. Toasts were 'pre-rap' poems and stories especially popular among those in the "life" and among prisoners."
Here's the overall description (first paragraph) from Wikipedia: "Lee Shelton (also known as Stagger Lee, Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stack O'Lee, Stack-a-Lee and by several other spelling variants) was a black cab driver and a pimp[1] convicted of murdering William Lyons on Christmas Eve, 1895 in St. Louis, Missouri. The crime was immortalized in a blues folk song that has been recorded in hundreds of different versions.
Lee Shelton was not just a common pimp, but as described by Cecil Brown,[2] "Lee Shelton belonged to a group of pimps known in St. Louis as the 'Macks'. The macks were not just 'urban strollers'; they presented themselves as objects to be observed."
Shelton died in prison in 1912, of tuberculosis."
I think it's safe to assume with TB, he didn't do his time standing on his head. I guess that what's you get for killin' somebody on Christmas Eve.
If ya'll find JJ's version of the lyrics, I'd love to have them too!
---------- MofroFan1
Last Edited by on May 23, 2008 9:04 PM
Love Mofro's version of Stagger Lee as well. I searched and searched for lyrics after hearing them do a version at The Orange Peel in Asheville NC, but have been unsuccessful. I found a recording on archive.org and listened and typed up the lyrics best I could make them out. If anyone is interested email me at briggzz@nuvox.net and I'll be glad to shoot them to you . May you can help me clean up the fuzzy parts as well.
Yo Briggzz...good to see you again. UHollis posted the URL and note below under another topic. I think he meant to put it under this one, as it refers to different shows on the archive where they've played Stagger Lee. (You'll have to cut and paste the URL cause my cheap-ass web-builder doesn't allow for links on the message board.) ---------- MofroFan1
i have that nick cave album and they are not the same song. it is definitly a crazy song and from an album titled murder ballads, would you expect anything else!
I listened to one of the versions UHollis posted and it's got Stagger Lee with a lot slower beat. The lyrics are easier to make out, so for ya'll that are trying to fill in the gaps, it may help.
It was taped by some guy named UHollis; I think he's posted here on the board 2 or 3 times... ---------- MofroFan1
(Is this the time to inform any newbies to the board that I'm really, really sarcastic?)
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