Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary

Subject: St. James Infirmary
From:
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 12:53 AM

I'm looking for chords to St. James Infirmary, any version but preferably the general kind done by Louis Armstrong and Lou Rawls, man I love that sound but I can't do it by ear like I can most things.. thanks for the expected help :>

Also, if anyone replies with chords, this thing moves so fast and I'm about to go to bed that there's a chance I might not get it, so if it's not too much trouble could someone email them to me? I will have a big huge heap of thanks for anyone that can help me..

-kyle http://members.dencity.com/bigfat [e-mail]

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Search for "infirmary" threads

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 01:45 AM

All you need to do is reset the [AGE] box at the top of the thread list when you return to check for your replies-- set it for 3 days for example if you come back tomorrow and your thread appears to have disappeared. They don't ever really go away.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 01:52 AM

Had you seen the version in the Digital Tradition database (blue box, top of fornm page)? It's here:

http://www.mudcat.org/!!-supersearch99.cfm?MaxHits=1&Command=search&NumLines=4&file=fall99&request=%5BST.+JAMES+INFIRMARY%5D

Chords would be:

Em, B7, Em
Am, C7, B7
Em, B7, Em, (Am)
C7, B7, Em

Of course for lyrics, the verse variations are endless. I like to look it up in the songbooks at music stores and see how it's done there.

~Susan~

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
From: Joan from Wigan
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 03:02 AM

I was surprised to find only one version in the DT. Here's the version I do, and I also use a different chord sequence:

Em B7 Em
Em Am Em
Em B7 Em
G B7 Em

ST JAMES INFIRMARY #2

I went down to St James Infirmary
To see my baby there
She was stretched on a long white table
So cold, so sweet, so fair

Soon the doctor came in to see her
And put her in a bed
Took one look at her pale white colour
And said 'My boy, she's dead'

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She was all that I ever cared for
I loved her tenderly

We will take her out to the graveyard
We'll ride a horse-drawn hack
There'll be three people goin' out there
But only two'll come back

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She was all that I ever cared for
I loved her tenderly

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 09:07 AM

I would render (render= verb "to tear apart")the last 2 lines of the second verse as:
"She can search the whole world over,
she'll never find a good man like me".
and the last verse:
Whe I die I want you to bury me
In a box-back suit and a stetson hat
Put a dollar gold piece on my watch chain
To let the boys know I died standing pat
RtS (as The Croakin' Bullfrog)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:22 AM

To go with the six chorus girls requested in the DT version:

Sixteen coal-black horses,
Hitched to a rubber-tired hack,
Carried seven girls to the graveyard;
Only six of 'em came back.

(Autoharp Complete Method and Music, Lewis Music Pub. Corp.)

Never did quite get it for sure-- is it the dying girlfriend requesting the six chorus girls, or is it grieving Joe? Depending on viewpoint and placement of that verse, it can be either-- the dying girl going out in a final chorus line, which I like, kicking her way into heaven or hell... or Joe going out surrounded by babes in memory of the dear lost babe, which I like, having a last sendoff his departed dear would have smiled upon.

Ah, the timeless themes of our chosen culture!

~Susan

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: Steve Latimer
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 10:45 AM

This is a great song. A friend of mine had a book of Blues lyrics that listed this song. There were about twelve verses. I don't think I've ever heard anyone do all the verses, but I have heard all of them. I guess people just pick and choose.

Most people do kind of a New Orleans swing version of this, e.g. Louis Armstronn, Cab Calloway etc.

My sister Susan does a really slow, blues version of this song that I just love. To me the mood of the song is much better suited to this style.

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
From: Jed at Work
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 11:04 AM

I use these chords.

Am, E7, Am
Am, Dm, E7

And I use these lyrics.

It was down at old Joe's barroom
On the corner by the square
The drinks were served as usual
and the usual crowd was there

On my left stood big Joe McKennedy
His eyes were blood shot red
As he turned to the crowd around him
These were the very words he said

You know I went down to that St James Infirm'ry
Just to see my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table
So pale, so cold so fair

Let her go let her go God bless her
Where ever she may be
She can search this whole wide world over
She'll never find a man sweeter then me

Let her go let her go God bless her
Where ever she may be
She can search this whole wide world over
She'll never find a man sweeter then me

{instrumental break}

Now when I die won't you bury me?
In my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the gang will know I died standing pat

I want six crapshooters for my pallbearers
Six pretty girls to sing me a song
Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon
To raise hell as we roll along

Let her go let her go God bless her
Where ever she may be
She can search this whole wide world over
She'll never find a man sweeter then me

Let her go let her go God bless her
Where ever she may be
She can search this whole wide world over
She'll never find a man sweeter then me

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 05:37 PM

ST. JAMES INFIRMARY

(Em) It was down in a smo(B7)ky (Em) tavern
(Em) In a corner (Am) by the (Em) square
(Em) All the guys stood ar(B7)ound drinkin' (Em) whisky
(Em) And the usual (B7) crowd was (Em) there

On my left stood my pal Joe McKinney
With his eyes all bloodshot red
As he gazed at the crowd round about him
Lookin' sad these words he said.

I went down to St. James Infirmary
And I saw my baby there
She was stretched on a long white table
Looked so pale, so cold, so fair.

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Let her go wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide country over
She will find not a man like me.

Now you've listened to my story
I'll have one more shot of booze
And if anybody happens to ask you
All I've got are those gambler's blues.

This version came from a book I used to have. I think it might have been Mel Bay, but I'm not sure, called something like "folk blues." It also had a version of Wanderin' Blues that differed from many, CC Rider Blues, Careless Love, a different version of 900 miles, Frankie and Johnny, and a good range of others of which the one I miss most was "Dixieland Band in the Sky"

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 4-Oct-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 07:20 PM

Dave Van Ronk does a great version. His chorus, though, ends "Never find a sweetin' man like me." "Sweetin'", I take it, may be understood as "love-makin'", to put it delicately. I think this is more in the style and feeling of the song than the "sweeter man" referred to above--which I always used to sing too.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: wysiwyg
Date: 27 Oct 00 - 08:11 PM

I sing it in a high, slow, lazy, curvy blues way, letting the melody vary more as the verses go along. Like some women sing Summertime. It's be moanin' if it was lower; this is nearly a whine. With a slow and sad electric autoharp walkin' along quietly just after the beat and taking a louder turn on its own, real strong about halfway through. With a good bit of reverb. The lowest tones, amped, are pretty spooky.

Of course that's only when I'm home alone.

~S~

---

Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: ST JAMES INFIRMARY
From: GUEST,tom
Date: 07 May 04 - 01:27 PM

I went down to St. James Infirmary
To see my baby there,
She was lyin' on a long white table,
So sweet, so cool, so fair.

Went up to see the doctor,
"She's very low," he said;
Went back to see my baby
Good God! She's lying there dead.

I went down to old Joe's barroom,
On the corner by the square
They were serving the drinks as usual,
And the usual crowd was there.

On my left stood old Joe McKennedy,
And his eyes were bloodshot red;
He turned to the crowd around him,
These are the words he said:

Let her go, let her go, God bless her;
Wherever she may be
She may search the wide world over
And never find a better man than me

Oh, when I die, please bury me
In my ten dollar Stetson hat;
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So my friends'll know I died standin' pat.

Get six gamblers to carry my coffin
Six chorus girls to sing me a song
Put a twenty-piece jazz band on my tail gate
To raise Hell as we go along

Now that's the end of my story
Let's have another round of booze
And if anyone should ask you just tell them
I've got the St. James Infirmary blues

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: st james infirmary (request only)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 May 04 - 03:05 PM

Guest Tom, whose version? Did you check the DT and the threads (see list of related threads) before posting lyrics?

This one was posted (or close to it) by Richard Bridge, way back in 27 Oct '00, in thread 26976: St. James (above)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: st james infirmary (request only)
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 07 May 04 - 06:50 PM

Q - don't be a pedant. Someone is trying to be helpful. There are plenty of so called Guests who are only interested in stirring up trouble. Let's be welcoming to the ones who are trying to join in with the spirit of the Mudcat. Most of us do not have the time (or the inclination) to check every mudcat thread before submitting a posting.
Okay - by all means ask for a source - that is useful information, but let's face it the Digitrad is a hotch potch of sources, some creditable and others still to be checked or corrected. It improves as time goes on, but it still has a long way to go before it will become what Dick and Susan originally envisaged.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: st james infirmary (request only)
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 May 04 - 07:43 PM

Guests, and members, should learn at least the basics of the system. Unecessary duplications waste the time of those looking for material that is already posted, and interfere with the efforts of people like Joe who are trying to improve access to, and quality of, information in Mudcat.

All of us have made superfluous postings from time to time because of the sheer volume of material, and organization that, at times, seems to have just grown, like Topsy, but to expend no effort at all to find what is already here is either sloth or lack of respect for those who do try.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: st james infirmary (request only)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 May 04 - 07:54 PM

Quack quack indeed.

A song like this exists in hundred of variants, and there's no harm in reminding us of that. This one was in fact different from the one Richard Brdge posted, or the one in the DT. Let a hundred flowers bloom.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: st james infirmary (request only)
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 04 - 11:32 PM

I can sing this in the middle of the late night of May 7th, 2004, and it is every bit as true and compelling and honest as it was in May, 1911.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la m?me chose.


A

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From:
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 12:44 AM

The best version of this song (and many others) is on a CD by Lu Watters and his Yerba Buena Jazz Band; the album is "At Hambone Kelly's" in 1950. It's the best Dixieland jazz and blues recording that I've ever found. In fact, out of a large music collection of all genres, it's my favorite album of all.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: Alan Day
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 02:49 AM

A version of this song will shortly be available on "Anglo International" sung and played by Harry Scurfield on Anglo Concertina.
Al

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: GUEST,A .J
Date: 05 Sep 05 - 09:25 AM

I agree with you Geoff the duck.
What rules Q?
Your Rules ?
If you want rules start another site with rules.
You owe Guest Tom an apology, a rule of politeness.
A J

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: GUEST,Birgit
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 09:55 AM

Hi People,

I always sing this version, which i havent seen in this thread.. does anyone recognise it, becouse I dont remember the source of this version to be honest :S


I went down to the St. James infirmary
I saw my baby there
Stretched out on a long white table, so sweet, so cold, so fair

Let her go, let her go, God bless her, wherever she may be
She can look this wide world all over,
but she'll never find a sweet love like me

Yes, sixteen coal black horses, to pull that rubber tied hack
Well, it's seventeen miles to the graveyard, but my baby's never comin' back

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: Jayto
Date: 14 Oct 08 - 10:25 AM

I have a version of it on my myspace that I do. I learned it from Dave Von Ronk so my lyrics are pretty much like he did it. I have changed a few basically by dropping a word or two. Watch chain I never say chain because of the way I say it. Probably because of my accent. I am from Ky and draw some words out more than Dave. It's not intentional but watch chain ends up being to long to fit most of the time lol. The chords I play are Am, E7, Am, E7 bouncing back and forth. I wiil go up to Am and E7 on the 5th fret. I also do a walk of Am, D9, C, Dsus,F, E7, Am. I just sort heard that walk in my head when I started playing it so I added it. It just felt right to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: GUEST,Guest Ty
Date: 24 Mar 09 - 12:33 PM

Looking for a chord chart or lead sheet to this tune that was Sung by Tom Jones..

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: Angrybean
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 11:36 PM

Here's my version on acoustic guitar

St James Infirmary Blues

Thanks

Ang

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: Suffet
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 10:57 PM

Here are the guitar chords I use. Chords are shown immediately before the words on which changes occur.


[pickup] It was [Am] down in [E7] old Joe's [Am] barroom,

On the corner [F] by the [E7] square,

The [Am] drinks they were [E7] served round as [Am] usual,

And the [F] regular [E7] crowd was [Am] there. [E7 turnaround]



--- Steve

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: St. James Infirmary
From: GUEST,Norman Strand
Date: 16 Jun 12 - 03:56 PM

Here are the words I learned from a book my brother had in about 1967. I do not know the author or title of the book.

I went on down to Saint James Infirmary
And I saw my baby laying there
She was wrapped up on that long cold white table
So cool so calm so fair

I went up to see the doctor
She's very low he said
Went back to see my baby
Good God she's laying there dead

Went down to Joe's old bar room
On the corner by the square
They were serving drinks as usual
And the usual crowd was there

On my left was old Joe McKennedy
And his eyes were blood shot red
He turned to the crowd around him
And this is what he said

Let he go, Let her go God bless her
Where ever she may be
Saint James Infirmary Blues
I don't remember the way the notes were written down, I tend to sing it adlibbing the melody. There is a piano version with no words in Les Joies du Boogie et du Blues (the Joy of Boogie and Blues) by Denes Agay and Gerald Martin.

She may search this wide world over
But she'll never find a better man than me

When I die I want to be buried
In my high top Stetson hat
But a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys will know I died standing pat

Get six long black gamblers to carry my coffin
Six chorus girls to sing me a song
Put a twenty piece jazz band on my tail gate
To raise hell as we roll along

Now that's the end of my story
Now that's the end of my song
If any one should ask you
What's wrong with that fool in the corner
Just tell them I've had the Saint James Infirmary blues to long