St. James Infirmary

Well, I went down to St. James' Infirmary and I saw my baby there

She was laid out on that long white table, so sweet, so cold, so fair

Well, I went up to see the doctor: She's feeling very low –, he said

Well, I went back to see my baby

And good God, she was lying there dead

So let her go, let her go, God bless her soul

Wherever she may be

She may search this whole wide world over

And never find a motherfucker like me

Well, I went down to Old Joe's Ballroom

On the corner down by the square

They were serving drinks as usual

And all the usual folks were there

Well, to my left stood Old Joe McKennedy

His eyes were bloodshot red

And he turned to the crowd in front of him

And these were the very words that he said

He said: Let her go, let her go, God bless her soul

Wherever she may be

She may search this whole wide world over

And never find a motherfucker like me

So when I die won't you bury me

In my high-top Stetson hat

Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain

So the devil knows I died standing pat

Six gamblers to carry my coffin

With chorus girls to sing me a song

Put a jazz band on the horse wagon

To raise Hell as we roll along

So bring out the rubber tied carridge

Go ahead and bring out the pony and drive

Twelve men going down to that graveyard

Only eleven of them ever coming back

So let her go, let her go, God bless her soul

Wherever she may be

She may search this whole wide world over

And never find a motherfucker like me

So now, they've heard my story

Well, let's buy another round of booze

And if anyone ever should ask you

I got the St. James' Infirmary blues