St James Infirmary
Tarbox Ramblers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
St. James Infirmary is a classic American blues song that has been covered by many artists over the years. The song tells the story of a man who goes to St. James Infirmary to see his lover, only to find her dead on a long white table. The song is a classic example of the folk process, where stories and songs are passed down through generations and adapted to fit the times.
The song begins in a barroom where the singer encounters Big Joe McKennedy, who tells the crowd about his lover's death at St. James Infirmary. The singer describes the dead lover as "sweet, cool and so fair," and wishes her well on her journey. The singer declares himself the sweetest man in the world and requests that he be buried with his Stetson hat, a gold piece on his watch chain, and a jazz band on his hearse.
The song has been interpreted in many ways over the years. Some see it as a commentary on death and the afterlife, while others view it as a celebration of life and the joys of music. The song has also been adapted for different musical genres, including jazz, blues, and folk, reflecting the versatility of the lyrics and the story they tell.
Line by Line Meaning
It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
The singer was at a bar on the corner of the square called Old Joe's, where 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
The singer noticed a man named Big Joe McKennedy standing beside him with bloodshot red eyes
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
Big Joe McKennedy turned his face to the people and said something very specific
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
The singer had gone to St. James Infirmary and saw their significant other there
She was stretched out on a long white table, so sweet, cool and so fair
Their significant other was laid out on a table and looked peaceful
Let her go, let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be
The singer is acknowledging that their significant other is gone and wishes them the best wherever they are
She may search this whole wide world over, never find a sweeter man as me
The singer is confident that their significant other will never find someone as sweet as they are
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
The singer wants to be buried in their high top Stetson hat and with a twenty dollar gold piece on their watch chain to show they died with honor
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
The singer wants six crapshooters to carry their casket, three women to sing, a jazz band to play, and for everyone to have a good time as they go to the grave
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
The singer repeats their hope that their significant other finds happiness, but will never find someone as sweet as they were
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Irving Mills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind