When I went down to old Joe's barroom
On the corner by the square
The drinks we all served as usual
And the usual crowd was there
Up the bar, I saw Big Joe McKenny
With his eyes bloodshot and red
Gather round and now all you sinners
I'm gonna tell you just what Big Joe said
When I went down to St. James infirmary
Just to see my baby there
She was stretched on a long white table
So cold, so cold, so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She can look this whole wide world over
But she'll never find another man like me
Now, when I die I want you to bury me
In my high top Stetson hat
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
I want the boys to know I died standing pat
And if anybody should ask you who's been singing
If anybody should wanna know who wrote this song
Just tell him Big Joe was here this morning
Well he was here this morning, yeah, but now he's gone