This next song is from the 1910 collection of a Miss Ella Scott Fisher, San Angelo Texas. It provides the earliest known lyrics of this song. The song, characterized by themes of lawlessness and defiance, has been recorded in over 60 versions since 1923, including notable interpretations by Mississippi John Hurt in 1928, and Lloyd Price in 1956. Also Furry Lewis in 27, Woody Guthrie in 56, and Bob Dylan in 1993. The song is "Stagalee", and here's our cover using the original 1910 lyrics. [Song begins] Twas a Christmas morning, The hour was about ten, When Stagalee shot Billy Lyons And landed in the Jefferson pen. O Lordy, po' Stagalee! Billy Lyons' old woman She was a terrible sinner She was home that Christmas mornin' A-preparin' Billy's dinner. O Lordy, po' Stagalee! Messenger boy came to the winder, Then he knocked on the door An' he said "Yer old man's a lyin' there Dead on the barroom floor." O Lordy, po' Stagalee! (Billy's (Billy's Old Woman:) "Stagalee, O Stagalee, What have you gone and done? You've gon and shot my husband With a forty-four gatlin' gun?" O Lordy, po' Stagalee! (Stagalee's Friend:) "Stagalee, O Stagalee Why don't you cut and run For here comes the policeman And I think he's got a gun." O Lordy, po' Stagalee! (Policeman, a little scared of Stagalee:) "Stagalee, O Stagalee I'm 'restin' you just for fun The officer jest wants you To identify your gun." O Lordy, po' Stagalee! (Stagalee in jail:) "Jailer, O Jailer I jest can't sleep For the ghost of Billy Lyons Round my bed does mourn and weep." O Lordy, po' Stagalee! "Gentlemen of this jury You must let poor Stagalee go His poor and aged mammy Is lyin' very low." O Lordy, po' Stagalee! "Gentlemen of this jury Wipe away your tears. For Stagalee's aged mammy Has been dead these 'leven years." O Lordy, po' Stagalee! Stagalee's old woman She hung around the jail And in three days she had him out On a ten-thousand-dollar bail O Lordy, po' Stagalee! [Outro] "Stagalee, O Stagalee" O Lordy, po' Stagalee! O Lordy, O Lordy, Lordy Stagalee! Stagalee! Stagalee! You Are Listening To Public Domain Radio!
