Stagger Lee

Chicago Informant

Stackolee

Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me!

"Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me" is considered one of the great, classic collections of African-American literature and folklore. Originally published by in 1974, it quickly gained the reputation as a classic collection of black folk poetry. This book will delight students of African-American culture and folklore, and anyone who enjoys the double entendres and hidden meanings found in the oral tradition, from its African roots to contemporary rap.

Henry, Ramsey version
Joe, Ellis version
Frank, Ramsey version
Bobby, Jefferson City version
Gene, Wynne version
Bob, Connelly Migrant Camp version
Stackolee in Hell

"This comes from a manuscript fragment sent by Phyllis Wallace, of the Delinquency Study Project, Southern Illinois Universtiy, as heard from a Chicago informant in 1967." -- Bruce Jackson "Get Your Ass in the Water and Swim Like Me!"

Chicago informant, 1967

Stackolee

When I was young in my prime
I had all the bitches on my mind
I had money every single day
I even had green bags stashed away
I doned on reefers and grubbed on dope
I inhald gas like it was smoke
I walked in water I walked through mud
until I came to a town called Bullet O'Blood
I went into a bar -- asked the bartender for something to eat
He gave me a dirty glass of water and a fucked up pice of meat
I said, "Bartender, bartender, do you know who I am?"
The bartender said, "Frankly, I don't give a damn!"
That was all was said. I put two of my rockets in the motherfucker's head.
Lou came in rapping strong said Billy you can't be dead.
I said count my rockets in his head. She sau Billy Billy please.
I say look at that motherfucker down on his knees.
Then the lights grow tight.
Two motherfucking sisters tried to break for the door.
They won't try that shit no more.
Then I started again until I came to a town called sin.
Cops started fallin' in.
One jumoed up and blew gas.
I jumped up for the deck and caught a rocket in my mother fucking neck.