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 of the square, where people were gathering and drinks were being served as usual.
They were serving drinks as usual, and the usual crowd was there
Confirms the regularity of the scene with the usual crowd present.
On my left stood Big Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
Introduces Big Joe McKennedy, describing his bloodshot red eyes.
And he turned his face to the people, these were the very words he said
Big Joe turns to address the people, about to speak.
I was down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
Narrator recounts being at St. James Infirmary and seeing their beloved on a table.
She was stretched out on a long white table,
Describes the position of the narrator's beloved, lying on a long white table.
So sweet, cool and so fair
Highlights the sweet, cool, and fair appearance of the beloved.
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Expresses a wish for the beloved's freedom and well-being.
Wherever she may be
Wishing the best for the beloved, regardless of her location.
She may search this whole wide world over
Asserts the narrator's belief that no one will be as sweet as him for the beloved.
Never find a sweeter man as me
Emphasizes the uniqueness of the narrator's sweetness compared to others.
When I die please bury me in my high top Stetson hat
Request to be buried in a high top Stetson hat when the narrator dies.
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
Desire to have a twenty-dollar gold piece on the narrator's watch chain after death.
The gang'll know I died standing pat
Expectation that associates will know the narrator stood firm in life.
Let her go, let her go God bless her
Reiteration of the desire for the beloved's freedom and blessings.
Wherever she may be
Continued wish for the best for the beloved in her whereabouts.
She may search this wide world over
Reasserts the narrator's uniqueness and sweetness compared to others for the beloved.
Never find a sweeter man as me
Emphasizes the exceptional nature of the narrator's sweetness.
I want six crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Desire for six crapshooters to carry the narrator's casket.
Three pretty women to sing a song
Request for three pretty women to sing a song at the narrator's funeral.
Stick a jazz band on my hearse wagon
Desire for a jazz band to accompany the narrator's hearse with lively music.
Raise hell as I stroll along
Expresses a wish for revelry and excitement during the narrator's funeral procession.
Let her go Let her go
Reiteration of the desire for the beloved's freedom and blessings.
God bless her
Continued wish for the best for the beloved in her whereabouts.
Wherever she may be
Reasserts the narrator's uniqueness and sweetness compared to others for the beloved.
She may search this whole wide
Continuation of the narrator's belief in their unparalleled sweetness.
World over
Expresses the idea that the beloved won't find anyone sweeter than the narrator, no matter where she searches.
She'll never find a sweeter
Reasserts the uniqueness of the narrator's sweetness in comparison to others.
Man as me
Final assertion of the narrator's belief in their own exceptional sweetness.
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