This is the earliest vocal recording mentioning Stack O'Lee (however you spell it) I was able to identify. (There were a few earlier recordings of instrumental tunes called STACK O'LEE BLUES, done by the big jazz bands: Waring's Pennsylvanians, Frank Westphal and his Orchestra, and Herb Wiedoeft and his Orchestra, in 1923 and 1924.)

The tune is "Frankie and Johnny" and the refrain is very similar.


STACK O'LEE BLUES
As recorded by Gertrude "Ma" Rainey, Paramount 12357, 1925.

Stack O'Lee was a bad man, ev'rybody knows,
And when they'd see Stack O'Lee comin', they'd give him the road.
He was my man, but he done me wrong.

Stack O'Lee, Stack O'Lee, was so desp'rate and bad,
He'd take ev'rything his woman(?) would bring, and ev'rything they had.
He was my man, but he done me wrong.

Stack O'Lee's on the warpath, and you'd better run.
Oh, Stack holds a Gatlin'(?) and he'll kill you just for fun.
He was my man, but he done do wrong.

Stack O'Lee's in jail now; had his face turned to the wall.
Dirty women and old corn whiskey was the cause of it all.
He was my man but he done you wrong.

A hundred-dollar coffin and a eighty-dollar hack
Carried him to the cemetery, but it did not bring him back.
He was my man but he done me wrong.