The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY BLUES

IT WAS DOWN IN OLD JOE'S BAR ROOM, CORNER
BY THE SQUARE, THE DRINKS WERE SERVED AS USUAL, THE USUAL PEOPLE WERE
THERE. WELL ON MY LEFT STOOD OLD JOHN HENRY, HIS EYES WERE BLOODSHOT
RED, HE TURNED TO THE CROWD ABOVE HIM, THESE WERE THE WORDS HE SAID;
I WENT DOWN TO SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY, SAW MY BABY THERE, ALL LAID
OUT ON A WHITE MARBLE TABLE, SO COLD, SO PALE, SO BARE. WELL I WALKED
OVER TO THE DOCTOR, SHE'S FEELIN' DOWN HE SAID, WALKED BACK OVER TO
MY BABY, MY BABY, MY BABY WAS DEAD. WELL LET HER GO, LET HER GO
GOD BLESS HER, WHEREVER SHE MAY BE, I KNOW I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER
LIKE HER, THERE'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER FOR ME. WELL NOW YOU'VE HEARD
MY STORY, I'LL TAKE ANOTHER SHOT OF BOOZE, ANYONE SHOULD WANT TO ASK
YOU. I GOT THE SAINT JAMES INFIRMARY BLUES."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HARPER WOODS

Date learned: CA03001974