St. James Infirmary
Hugh Laurie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I went down to St James Infirmary
Saw my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table
So cold, so sweet, so sweet, so fair

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She can search this whole wide world over
She won't ever find another man like me

When I die, bury me in straight laced shoes,
A box backed suit and a Stetson hat




Put a 20 dollar gold piece on my watch chain;
So the boys'll know I died standin' pat

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Hugh Laurie's "St. James Infirmary" tell a story of a man who goes to a hospital (possibly a morgue) and finds his lover lying on a long, white table. She is described as being "so cold" and "so sweet, so fair." The man then mourns her death and tells her to go and find happiness wherever she may be, but not expect to find another man like him.


The song has a bluesy, soulful tone that conveys the sorrow and tragedy of the story. The imagery of the hospital and the dead woman is haunting and vivid, and the singer's sense of loss is palpable. The final verse, where the man describes his own death and burial, adds a layer of depth to the story, as it suggests that the singer may have been reflecting on his own mortality all along.


Overall, "St. James Infirmary" is a powerful song that explores themes of love, loss, and mortality through vivid storytelling and evocative imagery.


Line by Line Meaning

I went down to St James Infirmary
I walked to the hospital to see my deceased lover


Saw my baby there
I saw my lover's body in the hospital


She was stretched out on a long white table
Her body was laid out on a long white table for viewing


So cold, so sweet, so sweet, so fair
Although she looked peaceful, I was saddened by her death


Let her go, let her go, God bless her
I hope she rests in peace and is released from any pain and suffering


Wherever she may be
Regardless of where her soul may go after death


She can search this whole wide world over
She will never find another love like me


She won't ever find another man like me
I was the best lover she ever had and no one else can compare


When I die, bury me in straight laced shoes
When I die, please bury me with formal attire


A box backed suit and a Stetson hat
I want to be dressed in my best attire with a nice hat


Put a 20 dollar gold piece on my watch chain;
I want a 20 dollar gold piece placed on my watch chain as a symbol of wealth and prosperity


So the boys'll know I died standin' pat
I want others to know that I remained steadfast and unchanging in my beliefs throughout my lifetime




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alf Clausen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions