It was down at old Joe's bar room

At the corner by the square

They were serving drinks as usual

And the usual crowd was there

On my left stood big Joe MacKennedy

His eyes were bloodshot red

And as he looked at the gang around him

These were the very words he said.

I went down to St. James Infirmary

I saw my baby there

Stretched out on a long, white table

So young, so cold, so fair

Seventeen coal-black horses

Hitched to a rubber-tied hack

Seven girls goin' to the graveyard

Only six of them are coming back

Let her go. Let her go, God bless her

Wherever she may be

She may search this wide world over

And never find another man like me

Instrumental Verse x2

When I die just bury me

In my high-top Stetson hat

Place a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain

To let the Lord know I died standing pat

I want six crap-shooters for my pallbearers

A chorus girl to sing me a song

Place a jazz band on my hearse wagon

To raise hell as we roll along

Now that you've heard my story

I'll take another shot of booze

And if anyone here should ask you

I've got the gambler's blues