The story of "Stagger Lee" (Stack O' Lee) seems to be based on a newspaper report of a carriage driver who, enraged by a friend during a political argument, murdered that friend. Alcohol was involved. The carriage driver was named Lee Shelton and the shooting occurred in St Louis in 1895. Shelton's nickname was Stagger Lee, the victim was William or Billy.
In 1959, the song was re-worked and released as a single by Lloyd Price, a Kenner, Louisiana native who got his start singing in church. He had a other hits but this old blues-folk song, as arranged by Price and his business partner, is considered by many music historians to be one of the richest, most important, and greatest songs ever recorded. In more recent years, Lloyd Price is a business man, managing his own brand of southern food products, and he can still belt out his hits.
For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar 
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
I've heard that song lots of times but have never been able to understand the words. Guess I need to go look up the words on wikipedia. Your history was very interesting and it is sure a happy sounding song about a murder!
Here in Cape Coral, Florida we are getting some real pin action on waterfront and golf course home sales after two years of nothing. The fog is clearing and the Nights are Clear and the Moon is Yellow! As you see, political arguments end in violence, so we just hunker down and sell real estate. Thanks!
JimG
Barbara,
This is, more or less, the lyrics
The night was clear and the moon was yellow
And the leaves came tumbling down
I was standing on the corner
When I heard my bulldog bark
He was barkin' at the two men
Who were gamblin' in the dark
It was Stagger Lee and Billy
Two men who gambled late
Stagger Lee threw seven
Billy swore that he threw eight
Stagger Lee told Billy
I can't let you go with that
You have won all my money
And my brand new stetson hat
Stagger Lee went home
And he got his forty-four
Said, I'm goin' to the barroom
Just to pay that debt I owe
Go Stagger Lee
[Instrumental Interlude]
Stagger Lee went to the barroom
And he stood across the barroom door
He said, nobody move
And he pulled his forty-four
Stagger Lee, cried Billy
Oh, please don't take my life
I've three little children
And a very sickly wife
Stagger Lee shot Billy
Oh, he shot that poor boy so bad
Till the bullet came through Billy
And it broke the bartender's glass
Go Stagger Lee, Go Stagger Lee