Lyrics:

It was down in Old Joe's barroom,
On the corner by the square,
Drinks were being served as usual,
And a goodly crowd was there.

When up steped old joe McGuinny
His eyes were bloodshot red;
As he poured himself more wiskey,
This is what he said:

I went down to the St. James Infirmary
I saw my baby there,
Streched out on a cold white table,
So sweet, so cold, so fair.

So Let her go, let her go, God bless her;
Wherever she may be **see note**
She may search this wide world over
but she'll never find a sweet man like me.

When I die, want you to dress me in straght laced shoes
A box back coat and a Stetson hat;
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys know I died standin' pat.

**verses not in original recording**

There are sixteen cold black horses,
Hitched to her rubber tired hack;
There are seven women goin' to that graveyard,
and only six of 'em are coming back.

Now that you'v heard my story,
pour me one more shot of booz;
And if anyone comes askin' about me,
Tell 'em I got, Saint James Infermery blues.

Some people exchange 'She never did love me' for the line 'Where ever she may be' that was in the original.