St. James Infirmary (Traditional / Reimagined)

[Intro – instrumental] [Verse 1] [Lead: male bari-tenor, smoky blues delivery, intimate and mournful; relaxed phrasing with subtle slides and blue notes.] I went down to St. James Infirmary Saw my baby's laid out in her gown [Fiddle: soft mournful answer.] I went down to St. James Infirmary Saw my baby's laid out in her gown [Lead: quieter, almost whispered; let the final words hang.] She looked so still beneath the covers Like she'd never hear another sound [Rap 1] [Spoken-rap: low, rhythmic storytelling; dark swing pocket, restrained and cinematic.] Streets are quiet, midnight in the bayou Shadows whisper tales I never knew Walking past the lights, the city hums low Every note of sorrow, every tale of woe [Lead: brief sung response, smoky and understated.] Every note of sorrow Every tale of woe [Verse 2] [Lead: fuller emotional weight; still controlled, blues phrasing.] I went up to see my baby She was lying low All her friends around her Moving fast and slow [Lead: slight pause between phrases; grief without over-singing.] Nobody said a word Nobody asked me why They just stood around her While the hours passed by [Rap 2] [Spoken-rap: slightly more animated, still mournful; ride the swing rhythm.] Walking through the shadows where the nightbirds cry Moon hangs low, the river running by Blues in my bones, sorrow in the air Every corner whispers, nothing left to spare [Lead: soft sung pickup.] Nothing left to spare... [Chorus / Instrumental Break] [Lead: soulful male bari-tenor; melody opens slightly while remaining dark and restrained.] St. James Infirmary That's where I laid my love to rest St. James Infirmary That's where I laid my love to rest [Lead: whispered emphasis on “rest.”] I gave her all the love I had And I gave her nothing less [Fiddle: mournful solo.] [Dobro: answering slides.] [Lead: quiet ad-lib between instrumental phrases.] [Verse 3] [Lead: intimate, resigned; smoky lower register with gentle vibrato.] I walked away from St. James Infirmary Left my baby there, no love left for me I walked away from St. James Infirmary Left my baby there, no love left for me [Lead: build gradually toward the final lines.] The river kept on rolling And the night kept moving on But somewhere in that darkness A piece of me was gone [Final Chorus / Outro] [Lead: fullest emotional delivery, still controlled; fiddle and dobro answer each phrase.] St. James Infirmary That's where I laid my love to rest St. James Infirmary That's where I laid my love to rest [Lead: slow, mournful.] I gave her all the love I had And I gave her nothing less [Fiddle: long descending phrase.] [Dobro: slow slide downward.] [Lead: almost whispered.] Nothing left to spare... [Instrumental fade]