St. James Infirmary
Tarbox Ramblers Lyrics
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They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table,
So sweet, cool and so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide world over
Never find a sweeter man as me
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
The gang'll know I died standing pat
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
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Three pretty women to sing a song
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Raise hell as I stroll along
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
The lyrics to Tarbox Ramblers' song "St. James Infirmary" tell a story of a man who goes to a bar and hears that his girlfriend has died. The man, Big Joe McKennedy, describes his visit to the St. James infirmary where he saw his beloved stretched out on a long white table. He asks for her to be let go and blesses her wherever she may be. The singer then describes what he wants to happen when he dies, asking for his high top Stetson hat to be buried with him and for a twenty dollar gold piece to be placed on his watch chain. He also requests six crapshooters to be his pallbearers, three pretty women to sing a song, and a jazz band to play as he is carried out in a hearse wagon.
The lyrics of this song are introspective and evoke feelings of loss and longing. It is a haunting blues ballad with a slow and steady tempo and a mournful tone. The imagery is vivid and the story is a tragic one, tinged with a sense of hopelessness regarding the inevitability of death. The singer seems resigned to his fate and his only wish is to be remembered as someone who lived life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
This story took place in front of Joe's barroom located on the square.
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
The bar was open with the usual people present drinking as usual.
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
The singer observed that Big Joe McKennedy was present on his left and he seemed to have bloodshot red eyes.
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
Big Joe McKennedy addressed the people with the following words.
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
I went to St. James infirmary and saw my lover lying on a table there.
She was stretched out on a long white table,
My lover was lying down on a long white table.
So sweet, cool and so fair
My lover looked sweet, calm, and beautiful.
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Let her go, let her be, and may God bless her.
Wherever she may be
Wherever she goes.
She may search this whole wide world over
She may search the whole world over.
Never find a sweeter man as me
She will never find anyone as sweet as me.
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
When I die, please bury me wearing my high top Stetson hat.
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain.
The gang'll know I died standing pat
My friends will know that I died without giving up in a game.
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
I want six people who play dice to carry my coffin.
Three pretty women to sing a song
I want three beautiful women to sing a song.
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
I want a jazz band to play music on my funeral procession.
Raise hell as I stroll along
I want my funeral procession to be lively and memorable.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOE PRIMROSE, IRVING MILLS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind