Clifton Hicks - Stagolee

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. Most 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.“ My instrument is an 1888 Thompson & Odell “The Luscomb“ banjo tuned ~ 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 knee