Lyrics Gambler's Blues - Dave Van Ronk

Gambler's Blues

It was down by old Joe’s bar room
On the corner of the square
They were serving drinks as usual
And the usual crowd was there
On my left stood big Joe MacKennedy
And his eyes were bloodshot red
When he turned to the crowd around him
These are the very words he said
I went down to that St. James Infirmary
I saw my baby there
Stretched out on a long, white table
So sweet, so cold, so fair
Let her go, let her go god bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
And never find sweetened man like me
And when I die please bury me
In my high-top Stetson hat
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
My gang will know I died standing pat
I want six crap-shooters for my pallbearers
While a girl sing me a’song
And put a jazz band on my hearse wagon
To raise hell as I stroll along
Let her go.
Let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
And never find sweetened man like me
Well now that i’ve told my story
I’ll take another shot of booze
And if anyone should happen to ask you
Well i’ve got those gambler’s blues
Let her go.
Let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this wide world over
And never find sweetened man like me