Stagger Lee Lyrics​

Nick Cave’s Stagger Lee (1996) is a brutal, dark retelling of the folk tale, featuring violent lyrics, eerie instrumentation, and raw intensity.

Stagger Lee Lyrics

Song Details

Artist: Nick Cave

Song: Stagger Lee

Album: Murder Ballads

Release Date: 1996

Lyrics

It was back in '32 when times were hard
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, had payments on that
Stagger Lee

His woman threw him out in the ice and snow

And told him, "Never ever come back no more"

Stagger Lee

So he walked through the rain and he walked through the mud

Till he came to a place called The Bucket Of Blood

Stagger Lee

He said "Mr Motherfucker, you know who I am"

The barkeeper 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 motherfucker called Stagger Lee"

Mr. Stagger Lee

Barkeep said, "Yeah, I've heard your name down the way

And I kick motherfucking 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 motherfucking head

Just then in came a broad called Nellie Brown

Was known to make more money than any bitch in town

She struts across the bar, hitching up her skirt

Over to Stagger Lee, she starts to flirt

With Stagger Lee

She saw the barkeep, said, "O God, he can't be dead!"

Stag said, "Well, just count the holes in the motherfucker's head"

She said, "You ain't look like you 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 gone before my man Billy Dilly comes in,

Mr. Stagger Lee"

"I'll stay here till Billy comes in, till time comes to pass

And furthermore I'll fuck Billy in his motherfucking ass"

Said Stagger Lee

"I'm a bad motherfucker, don't you know

And I'll crawl over fifty good pussies just to get one fat boy's asshole"

Said Stagger Lee

Just then Billy Dilly rolls in and he says, "You must be

That bad motherfucker called Stagger Lee"

Stagger Lee

"Yeah, I'm Stagger Lee and you better get down on your knees

And suck my dick, because If you don't you're gonna be dead"

Said Stagger Lee

Billy dropped down and slobbered on his head

And Stag filled him full of lead

Oh yeah.

Stagger Lee by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds is a track from their 1996 album Murder Ballads. It's a dark, violent reinterpretation of the traditional folk song Stagger Lee, which has been recorded by many artists over the years. Nick Cave’s version stands out because of its raw, aggressive lyrics and intense delivery, turning the folk tale into a brutal, almost surreal narrative.

It’s one of the most notorious tracks on Murder Ballads, with Cave’s sinister storytelling style amplified by the eerie instrumentation and backing vocals. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but a powerful piece of music.