Stagger Lee
new lyrics/music by Cave/Bargeld/Casey/Harvey/Savage/Sclavunos/Wylder
from the Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album Murder Ballads


INTRO: Dm  Am

       Dm
It was back in '32 when times were hard
                                       Am
He had a Colt .45 and a deck of cards, Stagger Lee


He wore rat-drawn shoes and an old stetson hat
Had a '28 Ford he had payments on that, Stagger Lee

His woman threw him out in the ice and snow
And told him don't you ever come back here no more, Stagger Lee

So he walked thru the rain and he walked thru the mud
'Til he came to a place called the Bucket of Blood, Stagger Lee

He said Mr. Motherf**ker you know who I am
The barkeep said no and I don't give a good goddamn, to Stagger Lee

He said well bartender it's plain to see
I'm that bad motherf**ker called Stagger Lee, Mr. Stagger Lee

Barkeep said yeah I've heard your name down the way
And I kick motherf**king asses like you every day, Mr. Stagger Lee

Well those were the last words that the barkeep said
'Cause Stag put four holes in his motherf**king head

Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown
Was known to make more money than any other b***h in town

She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt
Over to Stagger Lee, she's startin' to flirt, with Stagger Lee

She saw the barkeep said oh God he can't be dead
Stag said well count the holes in the motherf**ker's head

She said you look like you ain't scored in quite a time
why not come to my pad it won't cost you a dime, Mr. Stagger Lee

But there's something I have to say before you begin
You'll have to be done before my man Billy Dilly walks in, Stagger Lee

I'll stay here 'til Billy Dilly comes in, 'til time comes to pass
And furthermore I'll f**k Billy Dilly in his motherf**kin' ass, said Stagger Lee

I'm a bad motherf**ker, don't you know
And I'll crawl over 50 pussies just to get to one fat boy's a*****e, said Stagger Lee

Just then Billy Dilly rolls in and says you must be
That bad motherf**ker called Stagger Lee, Stagger Lee

Yeah I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees
And suck my dick becuase if you don't you're sure to be dead, said Stagger Lee

Billy dropped down and slobbered on his head
And stag filled him full of lead, oh yeah