It was down in Old Joe's barroom,
On the corner by the square,
Drinks were being served as usual,
And a goodly crowd was there.
When up stepped old Joe McGuinny
His eyes were bloodshot red,
As he poured himself more whiskey,
This is what he said,
I went down to the Saint James Infirmary
I saw my baby there,
Stretched out on a cold white table,
So sweet, so cold, so fair.
So let her go, let her go, God bless her,
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
But she'll never find a sweet man like me.
When I die, want you to dress me in straight laced shoes
A box back coat and a Stetson hat,
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys know I died standin' pat.
There are sixteen cold black horses,
Hitched to her rubber tired hack,
There are seven women goin' to that graveyard,
And only six of 'em are coming back.
Now that you've heard my story,
Pour me one more shot of booze,
And if anyone comes askin' about me,
Tell 'em I got, Saint James Infirmary blues.