nick cave the bad seeds
stagalee
Three traditional versions of the song from Murder Ballads Nick's version is also available Further details (and the actual book Nick edited from) are also available. Stagolee Bad man Stagalee when he bad, He bad wid a gun Stagalee, Stagalee --- you must-a been a sinner Ev'ry- Christmas eve they give Stagalee a dinner Bad man Stagalee, when he bad He bad wid a gun.  Don't you remember you remember One dark stormy night Stagalee and Bill O Lion Dey had dat noble fight.  Bill O Lion tole Stagalee Please don't take my life I got three little children And a dear lil' lovin'wife  Stagalee told Billy O Lion I don't care for your three lil' children Or even your lovin' wife You stole mah Stetson hat And I'm goin to take yo'life  Stagalee pulled out his forty-four It went boom boom boom It wasn't long' fore Bill O Lion WVere layin'on de flo'  Stagalee's woman she went to her boss Said, "Please give me some change. Dey got my baby in de station house An'mah business mus'be'ranged "  Stagalee asked his woman "How much change has you got?" She run her han'in her stocking feet And pulled out a hundred spot. She had to get mo'money.  From Southern Folk Ballads, McNeill Collected from Vera Hall, AL 1947  Stagolee Stagolee was a bad man, Ev'rybody knows. Spent one hundred dollars Just to buy him a suit of dothes. He was a bad man That mean old Stagolee  Stagolee shot Billy de Lyons What do you think about that? Shot him down in cold blood Because he stole his Stetson hat;  He was a bad man That mean old Stagolee  Billy de Lyons said, Stagolee Please don't take my life I've got two little babes And a darling, loving wife;  You are a bad man You mean old Stagolee.  What do I care about your two little babes, Your darling loving wife?, You done stole my Stetson hat I'm bound to take your life;  He was a bad man, That mean old Stagolee.  The judge said, Stagolee, What you doing in here?, You done shot Mr Billy de Lyons, You going to die in the electric chair;  He was a bad man That mean old Stagolee.  Twelve o'clock they killed him Head reached up high Last thing that poor boy said, "My six-shooter never lied." He was a bad man, That mean old Stagolee.  Stagolee chorus: Stagolee, Stagolee, he's the meanest man in town When that boy starts gamblin', better lay your money down Down in New Orleans where they got that Lyon's Club Every step you step you're steppin' in Billy de Lyon's blood  I remember one September, on a cold and stormy night Billy de Lyon and Stagolee, Lord, they had a great big fight Billy shot a seven, and Stack he said he'd pass Stack said to Billy de Lyon, "Brother, You done shot your last"  The woman asked the sheriff, said "How can this be? You got all them bad men, but you can't get Stagolee" Deputies took their badges and they laid them on the shelf "If you want to get that bad man, you get him by yourself"  Now send for the policemen, a hundred thousand come Loaded down with rifles and a great big Gatling gun On Friday we condemned him, the judge he lowered his head On Saturday we hanged him, I was glad to see him dead.