Verse 1: I was down at Old Joe's barroom on the corner by the square,
They were serving drinks as usual, and a goodly crowd was there.

Verse 2: In the corner sat old Joe McKenna, his eyes were bloodshot red,
When I asked him what was the matter, these were the words that he said:

Verse 3: I went down to St. James infirmary to see my baby there,
She was stretched out on a long white table, so cold, so sweet and so fair.

Verse 4: I went to see my baby's doctor, "She's might low," he said.
When I went back in to see my darlin' baby, good God, she was lyin' there dead!

Verse 5: Let her go, let her go, God rest her, wherever she may be,
She could search this whole wide all over, and never ever find another man as sweet as me.

Verse 6: When I die, when I die please bury me in boxback coat and Stetson hat,
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain so the boys will know I died standin' pat.

Verse 7: Want a big long funeral procession, twenty chorus girls dressed in black,
Put the second line [a jazz band] on my tailgate to raise hell while they're on their way back.

Verse 8: Well that's the end of my story, so have another glass of booze.
And if anyone, if anyone should ask you, I've got those dyin' gambler St. James Infirmary Blues.