"St. James Infirmary" lyrics - DAVE VAN RONK

DAVE VAN RONK
"St. James Infirmary"
(Traditional)

It was down at Old Joe's bar room
On a corner of the square
They were serving drinks as usual
And the usual crowd was there

On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy
His eyes were bloodshot red
Turned to the crowd around him
These are the very words he said

I went down to that 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 sweet man like me

When I die please bury me
In my high-top Stetson hat
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch-chain
My gang [or god] will know I died standing pat

I want six crapshooters for pallbearers
A chorus girl to sing me a song
Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as I stroll along

Roll out your rubber tired carriage
Roll out your old time hat
There's twelve men going to the graveyard
And eleven coming back

Now that I've told my story
I'll take an other shot of booze
And if anybody happens to ask you
I've got those gamblers blues

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
Never find a sweet man like me

Doo dooo...