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Graves of the two men who inspired Stagger Lee song
"Stagger Lee" Shelton and Willie Lyons got into a serious fight that quickly became a murder at the Bill Curtis Saloon in St. Louis, Missouri. Shelton shot and killed Lyons there, and since then it has become American folklore. The popular song, "Stagger Lee" or "Stak-O-Lee", among many variations, has been covered by many music legends.
I visit the graves of both men, who are buried in unmarked graves in cemeteries not far from each other in Normandy, Missouri. Shelton was given a headstone by the Killer Blues Headstone Project in 2013 at Greenwood Cemetery. Lyons is somewhere buried in Lot 5 at St. Peters Cemetery.
Пікірлер: 32
Stagger Lee, sung by the Great Lloyd Price was one of my favorite songs. I never knew that it was a true story. Thanks for posting.
@HistoricallyMarked
6 ай бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it
I heard he shot that poor boy so bad, that the bullet went through Billie and broke the bartender's glass.
@BrazenBull91
4 ай бұрын
Never take a man's new stetson hat.
@reginafowler3517
Ай бұрын
Was I the only one who didn't read it but instead...sang the comment! Love this song and that particular line is my favorite!
@mrdanforth3744
Ай бұрын
When I first heard that I pictured the bartender standing behind Billy with a glass in his hand and the bullet broke the glass. Later I realized it referred to the mirror of the back bar.
Love this song
I read a few years earlier about this very story behind the ballad. Thanks for showing the story, the Graves, Illustrating the true story of "Stagger Lee." And it's also interesting the trail leading to Lloyd Price recording the song. Price wrote the song "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," which was covered by seemingly everyone, most prominently by Elvis Presley. If I heard right, Price was unhappy with so many recording it that his own version was overlooked. The next year, he took the old ballad, recorded it, and the rest is history.
@HistoricallyMarked
2 жыл бұрын
Very interesting trivia. Thanks for watching!
Amazing song and Nick cave's take on it is stunning 🤟🏼
I wasn't expecting to see Grant Green's grave on a stagger lee video ^^
Good one brother very interesting!
Wonderful song. Thanks for sharing. 😊
Wilbert Harrison also recorded this song.
@deenababie
5 ай бұрын
Best version!!
Look up the podcast "Our Fake History" that covers more of the known details behind Lee Shelton and William Lyons, as well as how the legend grew from the shooting and subsequent trial. BTW, my understanding about the graves is not they were originally unmarked, just that the markers were not maintained, and were eventually lost.
@HistoricallyMarked
24 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching and for the information. I found the podcast and I'll listen later
Don’t forget the Grateful Dead’s version
Thanks for sharing
@HistoricallyMarked
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
I'm surprised there was no mention of earlier acoustic versions by John Hurt, Furry Lewis and others. A two part recording by Ukulele Ike is very entertaining and there is a long one by a convict following Stack to Hell with some rather crude details. I got my lyrics from Bob la Beau and sang it at a University music lecture with a cigar box Uke. Both are on KZread. My fav line is : " God will take care of your kids and I'll take care of your wife".
I got 3 little children and a very sickly wife!❤❤❤
Cool informative vid
Have u heard of john chilembwe This may help with significance of the hat 👍🏽may help to understand
@HistoricallyMarked
Жыл бұрын
Admittingly I never heard of him until now. Just looked him up and read about him. Thanks for introducing me to John!
I did not undestood all..unfortunatly !if it was a translate in french..i adore this song..i listen it everyday, version of Hugh Laurie
My favorite version is by Wilbert Harrison. Why was he not mentioned?
@avishalom2000lm
26 күн бұрын
Mind you, there are about 400 versions and covers of songs about Stagger Lee.
Wilbur Harrison's version of Stagger Lee
Thanks for the video. Very interesting. For folks who say they love the song, which version? Here are a few to choose from. kzread.info/head/PL702wZp45wmCR-cMfK3o2bN9MSWYNmvgq
IS IT STAGGER LEE OR "J.Y.D."???