I was down at old Joe's barroom
A corner by the square
The drinks were served as usual
Well, a goodly crowd was there
On the left stood Joe McKenzie
His eyes all bloodshot red
He gazed at the crowd about him
Boys, this is what he said:
As I pa**ed St. James' Infirmary
I seen my good gal there
She was all stretched out on a cold, white table
So cold, so sweet, so fair
I may be k**ed on the ocean
May be struck by a stray cannonball
You can write in life's history
That a woman was the cause of it all
If I die, little woman, won't you bury me?
On my tombstone write the letters in black
Sayin', "There lays my hard-workin' daddy
Great God, won't you please bring him back?"
I work in these old coal mines
Sundays and all night long
Tryin' to provide for my wife and baby
But now she's took it and gone
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
She's mine wherever she may be
She may travel this whole world over
She'll never find a pal like me
Want eight easy dice-rollin' hustlers
Four black-headed women to sing a song
Fill my casket with moonshine whisky
So I can drink while the hearse rolls on
Oh, now you've heard my story
I'll take another shot of booze
If anybody happens to ask you
You can tell 'em I've got the poker-playin' blues