I went down to St. James infirmary
I heard my baby groan
I felt so broken and downhearted
She used to be mine

Though I tried to keep from crying
My heart just felt like lead
The woman was all I had to live for
You know I wished it was me instead

I went down to St. James Infirmary
All, was still as night
My gal was laying out on the table
Stretched out so pale, so white

Though she treated me mean and low down
The woman was bad
Somehow I didn't care
My soul is sick and weary, ow
And I just hope that we two meet again up there

When I die, I want you, to dress me in straight lace shoes
Give me a buff backed coat and a big black hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece, hangin' on my watch chain
So all the boys would know that their man died standing pat

Let her go, let her go, let the woman go God bless her
Wherever, she may be
She can search and look this wide world over, over
But the gal will never find a sweet man, like me