Stagolee (Hurt)

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For other versions of this work, see Stagger Lee.
Stagolee (1928)
by Mississippi John Hurt
785739Stagolee1928Mississippi John Hurt

"O police officer, how can it be?
You can arrest everybody, but cruel Stagolee."
That bad man, O cruel Stagolee

Billy Lyons told Stagolee "Please don't take my life.
I got two little babes and a darling, loving wife."
That bad man, O cruel Stagolee

"What do I care 'bout your two little babes, and your darling, loving wife?
You done stole my Stetson hat, and I'm bound to take your life."
That bad man, O cruel Stagolee

Boom boom, boom boom, went a .44
The winter spy, Billy Lyons fell down on the floor.
That bad man, O cruel Stagolee

"Gentlemens of the jury, whatch-you think of that?
Stagolee killed Billy Lyons, 'bout a five-dollar Stetson hat."
That bad man, O cruel Stagolee

Standing on the gallows, Stagolee did curse.
The Judge said, "Lets kill him, before he kills some of us."
He's a bad man, O cruel Stagolee

Standing on the gallows, head held up high,
At twelve o'clock they killed him, they's all glad to see him die.
That bad man, O cruel Stagolee

References[edit]

  • Hurt, "Mississippi" John. "Stagolee". Avalon Blues: The Complete 1928 OKeh Recordings, 7, Columbia/Legacy, CD, 1995
  • Hurt, "Mississippi" John. "Stagolee". D.C. Blues: The Library of Congress Recordings, Vol. 1, 14, JSP, CD, 1998

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.


The longest-living author of this work died in 1966, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 57 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

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