St. James Infirmary
Soulful Journey through St. James: A Musical Tale of Love and Loss
Lyrics
It was down by old Joe's barroom, on the corner of the square
Describes the setting at Joe's barroom on the corner, where people are gathered.
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
Highlights the typical scenario of serving drinks with the regular crowd present.
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
Big Joe McKennedy is described standing on the narrator's left with bloodshot eyes.
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
Joe turns to the crowd and speaks.
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
The narrator recalls being at St. James Infirmary and seeing their deceased lover.
She was stretched out on a long white table,
Describes the lover's body laid out on a table in the infirmary.
So sweet, cool and so fair
Depicts the lover as beautiful, serene, and cool in death.
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Expresses a plea to let go of the deceased with blessings.
Wherever she may be
Expresses uncertainty about the lover's whereabouts after death.
She may search this whole wide world over
Emphasizes the difficulty for the lover to find someone as sweet as the narrator.
Never find a sweeter man as me
Claims the uniqueness of the narrator's sweetness compared to anyone else.
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
Expresses the narrator's wish to be buried in a distinctive high top Stetson hat.
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
Requests a gold piece on the narrator's watch chain to signal a specific status.
The gang'll know I died standing pat
Indicates a desire for recognition even after death among the narrator's associates.
Let her go, let her go God bless her
Repeats the plea to let go of the deceased with blessings.
Wherever she may be
Reiterates uncertainty about the lover's whereabouts after death.
She may search this wide world over
Repeats the difficulty for the lover to find someone as sweet as the narrator.
Never find a sweeter man as me
Reiterates the uniqueness of the narrator's sweetness compared to anyone else.
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Expresses the narrator's desire for specific individuals to carry their casket.
Three pretty women to sing a song
Requests three women to sing during the funeral procession.
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Wants a jazz band playing while the procession moves.
Raise hell as I stroll along
Desires a lively and celebratory atmosphere during the funeral.
Let her go Let her go
Repeats the plea to let go of the deceased with blessings.
God bless her
Reiterates uncertainty about the lover's whereabouts after death.
Wherever she may be
Repeats the difficulty for the lover to find someone as sweet as the narrator.
She may search this whole wide
Continues the uncertain search for a sweeter person than the narrator.
World over
Repeats the idea that the lover won't find anyone sweeter than the narrator.
She'll never find a sweeter
Continues to emphasize the narrator's perceived sweetness over others.
Man as me
Final repetition asserting the narrator's uniqueness in sweetness.
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