STACK O'LEE BLUES
As sung by Mississippi John Hurt on Okeh 8654, 1928.

Police officer, how can it be?
You can 'rest ev'rybody but cruel Stack O'Lee,
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O'Lee.

Billy deLyon told Stack O'Lee, "Please don't take my life.
I got two little babes and a darlin' lovin' wife."
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O'Lee.

"What I care 'bout your two little babes, your darlin' lovin' wife?
You done stole my Stetson hat; I'm bound to take your life."
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O'Lee.

Hmm-hmm....

Boom-boom, boom-boom, went a forty-four,
But when I spied Billy deLyon, he's lyin' down in the floor.
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O'Lee.

"Gentlemens of the jury, what d'you think of that?
Stack O'Lee killed Billy deLyon 'bout a five-dollar Stetson hat,
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O'Lee."

Standin' on the gallows, head way up high,
At twelve o'clock they killed him; they's all glad to see him die,
That bad man, oh cruel Stack O'Lee.