St. James Infirmary

Back in the 60's, while I was in the Navy, I was exposed to the song "Saint James Infirmary" as sung by Bobby "Blue" Bland.

Years later, (and I mean many YEARS,) when I began using "Napster" I found that song and lot's of other versions.   I noticed that no two of them seemed to have exactly the same lyrics.  I began keeping track of the various lyrics I found and I've compiled them into what, I think, would be an acceptable, but VERY LONG, version of the song.   So here I present my set of lyrics, and all the versions I've found, in mp3 format.

 (the ones marked with " * " are instrumental only)

It's actually a funeral song, (as is "When the Saints Go Marching In") and is quite popular in New Orleans.  It was a common practice to have a very loud and noisy funeral procession go through the town on the way to the graveyard.  All burials in New Orleans occur above ground, in mausoleums, due to the high water table.

Saint James Infirmary  

Lyrics