Stagger Lee

Woody Guthrie, one of America’s most iconic folk musicians, approached the tale of "Stackolee" or "Stagger Lee" in several different ways throughout his career. Guthrie's interpretations reflect his distinct storytelling style, combining a deep appreciation for traditional American folk music with his own insights on social and economic issues. Guthrie's versions of "Stackolee" add a unique voice to the ever-evolving legend, emphasizing different facets of the story depending on the social context and his own artistic intent.

Woody Guthrie’s renditions of "Stackolee" follow a traditional folk music style, characterized by simple chord progressions, rhythmic strumming on the acoustic guitar, and a focus on the lyrics. His versions are typically unembellished, aligning with his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to folk music that aimed to connect with everyday people.

Guthrie delivers the lyrics with a conversational tone, allowing the character of Stackolee to come to life as an embodiment of the grit and defiance that often featured in his repertoire. This approach presents Stackolee as not merely an outlaw but also a figure rooted in the struggles of the downtrodden, which resonated with Guthrie’s broader themes of social justice and the plight of working-class America.

The core story of Stackolee remains intact in Guthrie’s versions, but he sometimes adjusted the lyrics or emphasized certain elements to suit his perspective. Guthrie was known to reinterpret traditional songs, using them to comment on social inequality, power dynamics, and the experience of marginalized people.

In his take on "Stackolee," Guthrie often highlighted the mythic qualities of the character, portraying Stackolee as a symbol of defiance against authority. This aligns with Guthrie’s broader ethos, as many of his songs championed underdogs and those who fought back against perceived injustices. Stackolee’s confrontation with Billy Lyons served as a backdrop for exploring themes of power, respect, and rebellion. Guthrie’s delivery was less focused on the sensational violence of the story and more on the human motivations behind the actions of Stackolee.

Woody Guthrie’s versions of "Stackolee" fit into the broader Stagger Lee myth as a continuation of its transformation from a local folk tale into a national legend. While earlier versions of the song focused on the gritty, often brutal aspects of the story, Guthrie’s interpretations brought an element of empathy and social context to the character of Stackolee. He framed the narrative in a way that emphasized the underlying struggles faced by individuals like Stackolee—struggles related to poverty, pride, and systemic oppression.

Guthrie’s interpretations helped to recontextualize Stackolee, portraying him not just as a feared outlaw but as a figure who represented resistance to the social norms that oppressed working-class people. In doing so, Guthrie kept the legend of Stackolee alive while also giving it a new layer of meaning that resonated with the social movements of his time.

Woody Guthrie’s work had a significant influence on American folk music, and his versions of "Stackolee" are no exception. By interpreting this traditional story through his lens of social advocacy, Guthrie helped to preserve the song’s place in the American folk canon while also ensuring that it remained relevant to contemporary audiences. His approach to "Stackolee" demonstrates the adaptability of folk tales—how they can be reshaped to reflect the issues and values of different times.

Guthrie’s "Stackolee" also influenced later folk and roots musicians who saw in the legend a way to address social issues and explore themes of defiance. His interpretation is a reminder that folk music is not just about entertainment — it is also a powerful medium for storytelling that can carry deep messages about society, power, and justice.

Woody Guthrie’s various interpretations of "Stackolee" add depth to the enduring myth, reimagining the character as a symbol of resistance and focusing on the human motivations behind his actions. By framing Stackolee in this way, Guthrie not only preserved the story as part of the American folk tradition but also used it to highlight issues of social inequality and power dynamics, ensuring that the legend of Stagger Lee continued to evolve and resonate with new generations.

Stackolee was a bad man, everybody knows 
Spent a hundred dollars for just one suit of clothes 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 

Stackolee loaded cotton, weighed five hundred pounds 
Carried along a Gatling gun, that drug him to the ground 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 

It was in a hustling b-joint where the Mississippi run 
Stackolee killed Billy de Lyons with a smoking forty-one 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 

The high sheriff asked the deputy, "How can it be 
You can arrest everybody, but the mean old Stackolee? 
He's a bad man, that mean old Stackolee." 

And the deputy told the new sheriff, "Double up my fee, 
And I'll go get that outlaw, by the name of Stackolee 
'Cause he's a bad man, that mean old Stackolee." 

Gentlemen of the jury, what do you think about that? 
Stackolee killed Billy de Lyons about a five dollar Stetson hat 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 

Billy was in the card house and kneeling on the floor 
Stackolee pulled the trigger of his red-hot forty-four 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 

Billy said to Stackolee, "Please don't take my life, 
I've got three little babes and a darling loving wife 
You're a bad man, your name is Stackolee" 

"What do I care about your two little babes, your darling loving wife?
You done stole my brand new hat and I'm bound to take your life 
'Cause you're a bad man, and my name is Stackolee" 

Billy died in the sawdust, with his head upon the rail 
Deputy took old Stackolee and he marched him off to jail 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 

The judge said, "Mr. Stackolee, Mr. Stackolee 
I'm gonna hang your body up and set your spirit free 
'Cause you're a bad man, your name is Stackolee" 

Stackolee on his gallows, his head way up high 
Twelve o'clock we killed him, was all glad to see him die 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee 
He was a bad man, that mean old Stackolee

-- Words and Music Adaptation by Woody Guthrie