"William Lyons, 25, a levee hand, was shot in the abdomen yesterday evening at 10 o'clock in the saloon of Bill Curtis, at Eleventh and Morgan Streets, by Lee Shelton, a carriage driver. Lyons and Shelton were friends and were talking together. Both parties, it seems, had been drinking and were feeling in exuberant spirits. The discussion drifted to politics, and an argument was started, the conclusion of which was that Lyons snatched Shelton's hat from his head. The latter indignantly demanded its return. Lyons refused, and Shelton withdrew his revolver and shot Lyons in the abdomen. When his victim fell to the floor Shelton took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away. He was subsequently arrested and locked up at the Chestnut Street Station. Lyons was taken to the Dispensary, where his wounds were pronounced serious. Lee Shelton is also known as 'Stag' Lee." St. Louis Press-Democrat, 1895.
Who hasn't recorded a version of this song? I mean, even Samuel L. Jackson has recorded it. I had many to choose from but I like this performance a lot. This is the Isely Brothers doing an exciting version for a Brtish TV show. (I won't put someting so ugly on my blog, but I thnk the version that most accuratley captures the horror of the murder is by Nick Cave.) Note, the gun in the clip is not a .44 revolver as Stagger Lee actually used, and as the song reports. It is a 9mm parabellum.
2 comments:
here is a strange bit of useless knowledge for you - my Dad used to play in a Rock-n-Roll band back in the fifties - Arlie Neville and his Rock-n-Roll Devils. My Dad plays piano and guitar - he played piano for the band. My Mother's name is Pearly, so my dad used to sing "Pearly Lee" instead of "Stagger Lee" - they married in 1959 and when I was born in '65 my dad named me - wait for it... Pearly Leigh.
That is funny! When did you change from Leigh to Leah?
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