The historical "Stagger Lee" was Lee Shelton, an African-American pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri whose nicknamed "Stag Lee" or "Stack Lee".
On Christmas night in 1895, Shelton and got into a fight with his acquaintance William "Billy" Lyons (another African American who reputedly had underworld ties). Lyons stole Shelton's Stetson hat. Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left. Lyons died of his injuries, and Shelton was charged, tried and convicted of the murder in 1897. The murder soon entered into American musical folklore.
During the folk revival period (circa 1964), the "rediscovered" Mississippi John Hurt rerecorded his 1928 classic "Stack O Lee".
In the 1964 version, Mississippi John Hurt adds :
"Standing on the gallows, Stack O Lee did cuss The judge said lets kill him before he kills some of us"
Presumably, the jury was all white. So the phrase "us" is not ambiguous when considered in context.
Mississippi John Hurt's gentle performance contrasts with the violence of the story he tells.
Just came from a Friends house where I had to listen to niki Minaj kanye west and a whole cacophony of in yer face I'm so bad ass music. I got home and then I played this and then I got home again… Beautiful
People telling me this song isn't gospel don't seem to have read all the comments, only that particular comment. I was not suggesting this is gospel. I was replying to another comment and saying that MJH sings some of the only gospel I like. If you would like to hear some of his gospel songs please see my other videos.
Thanks.
+Bisbo Nian
Stackolee Mississippi John Hurt: https://youtu.be/T8S-Pu6T0Q0
The historical "Stagger Lee" was Lee Shelton, an African-American pimp living in St. Louis, Missouri whose nicknamed "Stag Lee" or "Stack Lee".
On Christmas night in 1895, Shelton and got into a fight with his acquaintance William "Billy" Lyons (another African American who reputedly had underworld ties). Lyons stole Shelton's Stetson hat. Shelton shot Lyons, recovered his hat, and left. Lyons died of his injuries, and Shelton was charged, tried and convicted of the murder in 1897. The murder soon entered into American musical folklore.
During the folk revival period (circa 1964), the "rediscovered" Mississippi John Hurt rerecorded his 1928 classic "Stack O Lee".
In the 1964 version, Mississippi John Hurt adds :
"Standing on the gallows, Stack O Lee did cuss
The judge said lets kill him before he kills some of us"
Presumably, the jury was all white. So the phrase "us" is not ambiguous when considered in context.
Mississippi John Hurt's gentle performance contrasts with the violence of the story he tells.
#stackolee #mississippijohnhurt
Check out this video on YouTube:
I think you mean Stagger Lee. Love Mississippi John Hurt and this song though.
The blues, the only genre that we can claim as our own.
Check out this video on YouTube:
Just came from a Friends house where I had to listen to niki Minaj kanye west and a whole cacophony of in yer face I'm so bad ass music.
I got home and then I played this and then I got home again…
Beautiful
0:36 izzat Sonny Terry over his shoulder with a cig in his mouth?
John Hurt never wrote anything but the record company would give him $5.00 per cover. The guy could pick…
magnifique, une légende.
this is the best version ever
@geoduck1000 boom boom went that fourtyfour….
People telling me this song isn't gospel don't seem to have read all the comments, only that particular comment. I was not suggesting this is gospel. I was replying to another comment and saying that MJH sings some of the only gospel I like. If you would like to hear some of his gospel songs please see my other videos.
Thanks.
Absolute gem, thanks for upload.