@joebstarsurfer fkn hell, what a version, he was "a desperator", A DESPERATOR, HA, "..he was a mean....", a mean MF.., couldnt say that on record then..... fkn hell, what a song, fingerpicking, shitkicking, drinking, gunfighting, taking the consequences, standing at the gallows, standing way up high... fkn hell...
The song Stagger Lee is based on a real murder in St Louis on Xmas night 1895 by pimp Lee Sheldon aka Stagger Lee. Hurt's monolog was made up, except Lee did shoot Billy Lyons after a fight when BL grabbed SL's hat. BL didn't have a wife or kids. The real story is well doc'd. Lee died prison 1911. Song first pub'd 1910: by John Lomax.
VERY COOL free graphic story GOOGLE: RIVERFRONT TIMES STORY OF STAGGER LEE.
THUMBS UP if you want others to see this comment and find the story download too.
@theshowmecanuck The graphic in the video that says 'In Walked Salk O'Lee' is from the graphic story about the True Story first published in the Saint Louis Riverfront Times on Jun 27 2007.
Some people love to clutch their peals over how violent rap is, but hearing this and other folk & blues songs tells me that "gangsta" types have been around a long time and are nothing truly new.
Such great story telling. I played guitar my entire life, rock etc and none of it amounts to any importance. Mr hurts is both soulful and original and depicts the Mississippi.
I've never heard this version so thanx for uploading it for us all... this was the first fingerpicking tune I learnt back in 1977 and my kids still ask me to play it when ever we get together. Cheers Paul
@DylanFan247 Ahhh, "No dislikes", lol, took me a minute. I have edit fails before posting too, laughing about that not at you. At the time I'm posting there's one, but 220:1, I would take that as conclusive. No accounting ....
Yah, Classic Dylan's the boss too.
I just wish I could have heard him play when he was alive.
god what a smokin' delta killer song, one of the best. Taj mahal does a damn nice job with this song too...god bless the first records I listened to' after the delta blues there just wasn't anything better...huichol53........
The combination of the ugly story of an evil act, the elegant guitar line, and M. J. H's calm, almost cheerful singing about the murder and its punishment....
.
Thank you. I've been looking for this song since I first encountered it in 1970.
Wonderful stuff. You're right -- he was one of the best. I got to see him play a couple of times back in the mid-60s and it was a real treat. The sad part is the amazing records he made back in the late 20s fell into obscurity, and he spent most of his life unknown to the music world until a handful of collectors went and found him and brought him back to the stage and recording studio for the last several years of his life. Almost everyone who fingerpicks guitar owes him a considerable debt.
@CroatAndNettles THE HAPPY PART WAS THAT WHILE WAITING FOR THOSE COLLECTORS TO FIND HIM, HE CONTINUED ALL THOSE YEAR TO PLAY EVERY EVENING. WHEN THEY GOT THERE, HE HADNT LOST HIS RAZOR SHARP GENIUS. SAME WITH MANCE WHEN CHRIS CAME AND FOUND HIM. SON HOWEVER, HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED PLAYING AND BLIND OWL RETAUGHT HIM. FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, WHITE AND BLACK CAN DO NICE THINGS FOR EACH OTHER
a person who listens to justin bieber
raycure 5 days ago
I don't play and I owe him a debt.
"He could play a guitar just like ringin' a bell".
inyobill 3 weeks ago
good old southern music, we got some of the best in every genre : )
emeraldtrianglenorte 3 weeks ago
I wish had a granda like MJH to tell me stories like this :(
mcflurryluv 3 weeks ago
@joebstarsurfer fkn hell, what a version, he was "a desperator", A DESPERATOR, HA, "..he was a mean....", a mean MF.., couldnt say that on record then..... fkn hell, what a song, fingerpicking, shitkicking, drinking, gunfighting, taking the consequences, standing at the gallows, standing way up high... fkn hell...
skinupfast 3 weeks ago
Comment removed
skinupfast 3 weeks ago
The song Stagger Lee is based on a real murder in St Louis on Xmas night 1895 by pimp Lee Sheldon aka Stagger Lee. Hurt's monolog was made up, except Lee did shoot Billy Lyons after a fight when BL grabbed SL's hat. BL didn't have a wife or kids. The real story is well doc'd. Lee died prison 1911. Song first pub'd 1910: by John Lomax.
VERY COOL free graphic story GOOGLE: RIVERFRONT TIMES STORY OF STAGGER LEE.
THUMBS UP if you want others to see this comment and find the story download too.
theshowmecanuck 1 month ago 4
@theshowmecanuck The graphic in the video that says 'In Walked Salk O'Lee' is from the graphic story about the True Story first published in the Saint Louis Riverfront Times on Jun 27 2007.
theshowmecanuck 1 month ago
Some people love to clutch their peals over how violent rap is, but hearing this and other folk & blues songs tells me that "gangsta" types have been around a long time and are nothing truly new.
yzetta 1 month ago
@yzetta "...he was a mean.....", a mean mf, couldnt say that on record then...
skinupfast 3 weeks ago
Why hasn't this got more views? :s
Quakeulf 1 month ago
Such great story telling. I played guitar my entire life, rock etc and none of it amounts to any importance. Mr hurts is both soulful and original and depicts the Mississippi.
Wow. Wish I could of met this great man.
thelostcaper 2 months ago
this is some of the best music ever and needs to be saved thanks
blubonnet52 2 months ago
I've never heard this version so thanx for uploading it for us all... this was the first fingerpicking tune I learnt back in 1977 and my kids still ask me to play it when ever we get together. Cheers Paul
Alove4life 3 months ago
Thanks for this upload, my favourite Country Blues singer! :-)
Lansdownekid 3 months ago
God coluld johnny Hurt do some hot finger pick'in. Love this classic Blues song, Huichol53.....
huichol53 3 months ago
THe fact that this has on dislikes should say something.
DylanFan247 3 months ago
@DylanFan247 Ahhh, "No dislikes", lol, took me a minute. I have edit fails before posting too, laughing about that not at you. At the time I'm posting there's one, but 220:1, I would take that as conclusive. No accounting ....
Yah, Classic Dylan's the boss too.
I just wish I could have heard him play when he was alive.
inyobill 5 days ago
JUST PLAIN CLASSIC....huichol53...
huichol53 3 months ago
Superb
Brilliant
Perfection.
PitaLeCatt001 3 months ago
the album you'll find this smokin' song is mississippi john hurt, the legand . Stagger lee the legend.....huichol53..........
huichol53 4 months ago
god what a smokin' delta killer song, one of the best. Taj mahal does a damn nice job with this song too...god bless the first records I listened to' after the delta blues there just wasn't anything better...huichol53........
huichol53 4 months ago
Which album is this on?
TheTrohl 4 months ago
love is hypnotic voice and melody
reverendmississippi 5 months ago
Merci pour ce post...légendaire!
Boossology 5 months ago
mesmerizing
TheAdam5100 5 months ago
Wonderful. Thanks for posting.
gmmakristin 11 months ago
john hurt the best fingerpicker ever
prs1093 1 year ago 11
oh croil stagga lee
joeymann603 1 year ago
The combination of the ugly story of an evil act, the elegant guitar line, and M. J. H's calm, almost cheerful singing about the murder and its punishment....
.
Thank you. I've been looking for this song since I first encountered it in 1970.
trisoctehedron 1 year ago
I saw him at the Philly Folk Fest in the parking lot. Bonnie Raitt was at his feet, dazzled. I was in college I think.
doctornoe 1 year ago
absolutly, amazing, terrific, beautiful, and wonderful
PlantATrees 1 year ago
fantastic.
spencer261 1 year ago
Wonderful stuff. You're right -- he was one of the best. I got to see him play a couple of times back in the mid-60s and it was a real treat. The sad part is the amazing records he made back in the late 20s fell into obscurity, and he spent most of his life unknown to the music world until a handful of collectors went and found him and brought him back to the stage and recording studio for the last several years of his life. Almost everyone who fingerpicks guitar owes him a considerable debt.
CroatAndNettles 1 year ago 9
@CroatAndNettles THE HAPPY PART WAS THAT WHILE WAITING FOR THOSE COLLECTORS TO FIND HIM, HE CONTINUED ALL THOSE YEAR TO PLAY EVERY EVENING. WHEN THEY GOT THERE, HE HADNT LOST HIS RAZOR SHARP GENIUS. SAME WITH MANCE WHEN CHRIS CAME AND FOUND HIM. SON HOWEVER, HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED PLAYING AND BLIND OWL RETAUGHT HIM. FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, WHITE AND BLACK CAN DO NICE THINGS FOR EACH OTHER
ELVIS4221 3 days ago