Stagger Lee

n

Dave Van Ronk

Stackalee

Dave Van Ronk, Folksinger — 1962

Dave Van Ronk
Dave Van Ronk

Dave Van Ronk, often called the "Mayor of MacDougal Street," was a pivotal figure in the 1960s Greenwich Village folk revival. Known for his gravelly voice and skillful guitar work, Van Ronk had a deep repertoire of traditional folk and blues songs, often reinterpreting them with his unique style.

Van Ronk’s "Stackalee" is rooted in acoustic folk and blues, showcasing his intricate fingerpicking guitar technique. The arrangement is minimalist, allowing the storytelling to take center stage. His gravelly voice and deliberate phrasing imbue the song with a sense of foreboding and inevitability, staying true to the song’s somber narrative.

Van Ronk’s lyrics follow the classic tale of the confrontation between Stagger Lee and Billy Lyons, focusing on the murder and its aftermath. His rendition captures the mythic and brutal elements of the story. By the time Van Ronk recorded "Stackalee," the song had become a staple in American folk and blues traditions. His version reflects his commitment to preserving and reinterpreting traditional music for contemporary audiences.

Dave Van Ronk’s "Stackalee" is a testament to his ability to bring authenticity and depth to traditional songs. It highlights his role in keeping folk and blues traditions alive during a period when they were being rediscovered by a new generation. His performance adds to the rich tapestry of interpretations of the Stagger Lee myth, blending historical authenticity with his own artistic voice.

I remember one September
Cold and frosty night
Mr. Stackerlee and Billy deLyons
Had a great fight
When you lose your money
Learn to lose

Ol' Stackerlee shot six bits
Billy Lyons, bet he passed
Stackerlee out with his forty-five
Says, "You've done shot your last"
When you lose your money
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Lord, a woman comes a running
Fell down on her knees
Crying, "Lordy Lord, Mister Stackerlee
Don't shoot my brother please"
When you lose your money...

Talk about some gambler
Oughta seen my Richard Lee
Shot one thousand dollars
And he come out on a three
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Stackerlee got his pistol
Lord, he got it fast
Shot poor Billy through and through
And he broke a looking glass
When you lose your money...

Well, the deputy says to the sheriff
"We want him dead or alive"
"How in the world can we bring him in
When he totes a forty-five?"
When you lose your money
Learn to lose

Old deputy leaves the office
Put his pistol on the shelf
"You wanna go and get that bad man
Better do it by yourself"
When you lose your money...

Well, they sent for the militia
Wagons come
Loaded up with pistols
And a great big Gatling gun
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Well, the judge says, "Mister Stackerlee
Mister bad man Stackerlee
Gonna hang your body up
And set your spirit free"
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Well, he's standin' on his gallows
Head way up high
Twelve o'clock, we killed him
I was glad to see him die
When you lose your money...

"There's a great big rumbling underground
Mama, what is that?"
"Ain't nothin' but old Stackerlee down in hell
With his John B. Stetson hat"
When you lose your money
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Well, Stack says to the devil
"Devil, lets have some fun
You stab me with your pitchfork
And I'll shoot you with my gun"
When you lose your money
Learn to lose

Well, Stack says to the devil
"Put your pitchfork on the shelf
I'm the bad man they call Stackerlee
I'm gonna rule hell by myself"
When you lose your money
Learn to lose