St. James Infirmary

This is a piece called "The St. James Infirmary"

Now I don't know exactly where it is

There is, on Route 66, in St. James, Missouri

There's a St. James Federal Hospital that I know about

Now, why they put Yankees in the South

I don't know, but it's alright, I guess

Some of the boys claim now, that St

James Infirmary itself is a hospital in Hell

Now, I don't know, never havin' been there

You ready, boys?

Alright

Was down in old Joe's barroom

Now that's on the corner, you know, by the square

The drinks were served as usual

And the usual crowd was boozin' there

Now on my left stood Big Joe McKnight

And his eyes were just a bloodshot red, drinkin' a cryin' 1

Now he turned to the crowd that was standin' 'round him there

And they claim this is what he said

I went down to the St. James Infirmary

I saw my baby there

Stretched out on a long white table

So sweet, so cold, so fair

Let her go, let her go, God bless her

Wherever she may be

She may search this wide world over

Never find a sweeter man as me

Y'all, take two

When I die, when I die please bury me

In my high top Stetson hat

Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain

So the boys'll know I'm standin' pat

I want six crap shooters for pallbearers

A chorus girl to sing me a song

Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon

To give 'em a fit as we roam along

And now you've heard my story

I'll take one more shot of booze

If anyone should happen to ask you

Well, I've got these lonely gambler blues

Oh, let her go, let her go, God bless her

Wherever she may be

She may search this whole wide world over

She'll never find a sweeter man as me

Yes, let her go, let her go, God bless her

Wherever she may be

She may search this wide world over