°- Gambler's Blues (18th Century)

I went down to old Joe's barroom, On the corner by the square. The drinks were served as usual, And a goodly 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: 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. 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. [Instrumental] My baby's dead, my baby's dead my baby's dead My baby's dead, my baby's dead my baby's dead Good God! She's lying there dead Mmm mm Now that's the end of my story Let's have another round of booze (another round) And if anyone should ask you what's wrong with me Don't tell them, (no no no, don't let them know Just tell them.. Oh if anyone should ask you just tell them I've got those Gambler's Blues. Yeah, just tell them I've got those Gambler's Blues. [Radio announcer] Sad song there, huh?. "Gambler's Blues" and "St. James Infirmary" are different titles for the same foundational American jazz and folk standard. While the song's origins are complex and debated, it is broadly recognized as a descendant of the 18th-century British folk song "The Unfortunate Rake". You're listening to "Public Domain Radio".