"St. James Infirmary" je mračna, melanholična balada o gubitku i smrti, duboko ukorenjena u blues tradiciji.
Najpoznatija verzija dolazi od Louisa Armstronga, ali pesma ima korene u starijim narodnim melodijama.
Ova pesma je srž bluesa o smrti i sudbini. Njena snaga leži u emotivnoj dubini i sirovosti, a verzija Louisa Armstronga
učinila ju je besmrtnom. Njena atmosfera odjekuje kroz generacije, jer tuga i refleksija nikada ne izlaze iz mode.
"He was born poor, died rich, and never hurt anyone along the way."
Duke Ellington
St. James Infirmary
(I, yeah, yeah)
I, yeah, yeah
I went down to St. James Infirmary
Saw my baby there...
She was stretched out on a long, white table
So cold, so sweet, so fair
Let her go! let her go! God bless her!
Wherever she may be...
She can look this wide world over,
But she'll never find a sweet man like me, (heh-heh)...bragging
When I die bury me in straight-laced shoes,
I want a box-back coat and a Stetson hat, John B., that is...
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys will know that I died standing pat
