Old Joe’s Barroom

I was down in Old Joe's Barroom
A corner by the square
The drinks were served as usual
Well, a goodly crowd was there

On the left stood Joe McKinsey
His eyes all bloodshot red
He gazed at the crowd about him
Boys, this is what he said

As I past St. James Infirmary
I seen my good gal there
She was all stretched out on a cold white table
So cold, so sweet, so fair

I may be killed on the ocean
May be struck by a stray cannonball
You can write in life's history
That a woman was the cause of it all

If I die, little woman, won't you bury me
For my tombstone, write the letters in black
Sayin', "There lays my hard workin' daddy
Great God, won't you please bring him back"

I work in these old coal mines
Sundays and all night long
Tryin' to provide for my wife and baby
But now she's took it and gone

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
She's mine wherever she may be
She may travel this whole world over
She'll never find a pal like me

Want eight easy dice-rollin' hustlers
Four black-headed woman singin' song
Fill my casket with moonshine whiskey
So I can drink while the hearse rolls on

Oh, now you've heard my story
I'll take another shot of booze
If anybody happens to ask you
You can tell 'em I got the poker playin' blues