Messengers

It was noon in the summer when the police shot him

“Stagger Lee, reincarnate” is what the cops called him

A trembling hand with big ideas, which killed his wife and her man

Stagger Lee in the Flesh in Southern California

He hit a rock going 90 in the dessert

Had blowout and was forced to pull over

He grabbed the Colt and put the barrel to his head

In the midst of all the sirens from the cop cars

He heard the quiet muffled beats from his wife’s heart

The last time she had kissed him when she loved him for real

Yeah, now he knows what you shouldn’t know

It never starts, it never ends, no

He thinks out loud,

“I’ve waited my whole damn life to turn my whole damn life around.

If this is it, well, they gotta fight,

I’m taking every last one of them fuckers down.”

Stagger Lee quickly opens up his car door

Sticks his left hand out waving in surrender

He hides a smile and a death wish with a fully loaded gun

Seven cops with their fingers on their triggers

Sweaty palms, grinding teeth, foggy aviators

Stagger Lee pulls the hammer back and dives into sun

He hits the ground with a barrel roll

He unloads the clip

Three cops hit the ground

The other four greet Stagger with his death

I’m so thankful

I’m so grateful

You afforded me to be born again

Another chance to make her my lover

I’ll make it right this time next life

And since you shot me

Since you killed me

I’ll haunt you in between

And I’ll possess your wife and kids

I’ll make it so you can’t forget

I’ll be coming back for her again, in flesh