Danny Barker - St. James Infirmary Blues

People keep talking about their favorite version of the St. James Infirmary Blues...I have a funny feeling this'll change your mind. :)

Lyrics [the best I can do]
It was down in old joe's barroom
on the corner by the square
(where the wino's hang out at)
the drinks went around as usual
'cos a goodly crowd was standing there

Off in a quiet dark corner
With his eyes bloodshot and red
(just like mine)
Sat this wise and slick old-time ancient gambler
And these are the words that the old man said

He said I just come from up at the St. James Infirmary
Saw my poor baby laying there
Them slick doctors and them double-breasted nurses had her stretched out on a long white table
She was so cool, she was so pale, she was so fair (laying there)

Let her go, let her go, god bless her
Wherever she may be
(up there or down below with the devil)
She can look this cruel, cold, wide, wide, wide world over
But she'll never find another good providin' sorta type o' man like me again

When I die I want you to dress me in straight-laced shoes
(put my shoes on because I may have to run from the devil)
I want a boxback coat and a stetson hat
(put my hat on because the cinders from in fire will be fallin')
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watchchain
So all my phony whiskey-head reefer-head friends'll know I passed away standin' pat
(have mercy)

I want sixteen snow-white horses (no mules, no ponies no jackasses all horses)
Sixteen chorus girls from the Apollo theater to sing and dance me a song
Put a jazz band on the top of my casket
To blow them Memphis blues as they slowly stroll along

Went down to the Saint James Infirmary the second time because I didn't believe what I saw the first time (have mercy)
And sure enough my poor dead baby was still laying there with a sheet over her head
(she looked like a gown-man)
I raised up the sheet and said darlin', would you say some nice kind words of consolation to me
She opened up one eye and said get the hell away from me can't you see I'm tryin' to pass away
(I said forgive me darlin')

Now that you have heard my story
Mr. bartender would you kindly pass me that bottle of wild turkey whiskey because I'm a chronic alcoholic
And if anyone should ask you what's my problem
You just tell them I've got them St. James Infirmary Blues

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Danny
• Barker
• St.
• Saint
• James
• Infirmary
• Blues

[WildcatKelly2009]

Great post. He's taken some liberties with the lyrics, and I like what he's done. WWOZ plays this version quite a bit. There is a whole blog and book devoted to this song. But one quick correction - it isn't "she looked like a doll, man", it's that she looked like a "gown man", which was sort of a boogieman in the old days of New Orleans. Gown men supposedly killed people for their organs, and i think they were linked to some rather aggressive charity hospital medical students.

[malenkylizards]

Oh, I miss the OZ...brightened up my day more days than I could count

[requiemofhearts]

Though I still prefer Cab Calloway's version from Betty Boop, I have to say I love this version. Feels more like a story than that one. Definitely my second-favorite version.

[LiarsNightmare]

THANK YOU SO MUCH

[LiarsNightmare]

THE BEST!!!!!

PAYDAY MONSANTO . COM

1

[aprilvan44]

Thanks for putting the words on here. This is a treasure. What's the book on it?

[susisilv]

amazing! the best lyrics i foun yet.....

[superfly1191]

goddam..perfection.

does anyone know the chords?

[maxnevins]

the devil makes three has the best version

[speedkleaver]

such a beautiful rendition, thank you and treme for bringing this to my attention

[shiffyboy]

Great version. Nothing beats James Booker's off Bayou Maharajah though.