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St James Infirmary

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Eminor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

From the album "Third Generation Blues" Doc Watson and Richard Watson
Chords   
            EADGBe
         Em702203x
      Emadd9022002
         Em6022020
         Am6002212
         Am7002213
           Cx32013
[Intro refrain]
 Em7When will I ever be happy
AmWhen will I ever smileEm  
  AmMy baby went and left me 
And Cshe'll be gone a long long wB7hile
C B7 Em  Emadd9  Em6
[Verse 1]
Em6Went dEmown to that St. B7James InEmfirmaryEmadd9  Em  
EmHeard sEmadd9weet baby AmgroanAm6  
EmNobody down B7there could Emcheer meEmadd9  Em6  
'Cause I Cknowed that B7she'd soon be EmgoneEmadd9  
[Verse 2]
EmAnd as I was B7standing there a'EmgrievinEmadd9  Em  
EmMy heart feelin' just like Am6lead
EmI knowed that she'd B7soon be EmleavinEmadd9  
I's a'CWishing that it was B7me insEmadd9tead
[Instrumental break]
Em              B7      Em      Emadd9  Em
Em     Emadd9    Am   Am7 Am6
Em          B7          Em      Emadd9
C           B7            Em  Emadd9
[Verse 3]
EmThen I went out to B7Old Joe's Embar roomEmadd9  Em  
EmMost of my friends were thereAm7  Am6  
EmBut nobody B7understood my EmtroubleEmadd9  
I tell you, Cnobody B7seemed to Emcare.Emadd9  
[Verse 4]
EmWhen I got back to that B7St. James InEmfirmary
EmAll was still as AmnightAm6  
EmSweet baby on a B7long low EmtableEmadd9  
She was Cpale, B7and so cold and EmwhiteEmadd9  
[Verse 5]
EmAnd when I put my hand B7on her Empretty faceEmadd9  
EmIt was cold like marble AmstoneAm7  Am6  
And I Emknowed that no B7woman could ever Emtake her placeEmadd9  
Lord it Cmade me feel B7so alEmoneEmadd9  
[Instrumental break]
Em              B7      Em      Emadd9  Em
Em     Emadd9    Am   Am7 Am6
Em          B7          Em      Emadd9
C           B7            Em  Emadd9
[Verse 6]
EmShe's gone, she's B7gone God Embless herEmadd9  
EmWhere-ever she might AmbeAm6  
If she'd Emsearched B7this whole world EmoverEm6  
She Cwouldn't have found a B7friend like EmmeEmadd9  
[Verse 7]
EmGive me my box back B7coat and my Embutton shoesEmadd9  
Emwhen you've laid me down to AmsleepAm7  Am6  
Put Emthese old guitar B7picks right Emup in my lapelEmadd9  
And fCellas set this B7old guitar right Emdown by my feetEmadd9  
[Verse 8]
EmWent down to that St. B7James InEmfirmaryEmadd9  
Emadd9Heard my sweet baby AmgroanAmadd6  
EmNobody down B7there could Emcheer meEm9  
'Cause I Cknowed that B7she'd soon be EmgoneEmadd9  
[Outro Instrumental]
Em       B7      Em      Emadd9  Em
Em     Emadd9    Am   Am7 Amadd6
Em      B7          Em      Emadd9
C           B7            Em  Emadd9

All chords in this song (11)

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St James Infirmary

by Doc Watson

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Em7

Emadd9

Em6

Am6

Am7

Amadd6

Em9

From the album "Third Generation Blues" Doc Watson and Richard Watson

Chords

EADGBe

Em7

02203x

Emadd9

022002

Em6

022020

Am6

002212

Am7

002213

x32013

[Intro refrain]

Em7

When will I ever be happy

Am Em

When will I ever smile

My baby went and left me

C B7

And she'll be gone a long long while

C B7 Em Emadd9 Em6

[Verse 1]

Em6 Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em

Went down to that St. James Infirmary

Em Emadd9 Am Am6

Heard sweet baby groan

Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em6

Nobody down there could cheer me

C B7 Em Emadd9

'Cause I knowed that she'd soon be gone

[Verse 2]

Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em

And as I was standing there a'grievin

Em Am6

My heart feelin' just like lead

Em B7 Em Emadd9

I knowed that she'd soon be leavin

C B7 Emadd9

I's a'Wishing that it was me instead

[Instrumental break]

Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em

Em Emadd9 Am Am7 Am6

Em B7 Em Emadd9

C B7 Em Emadd9

[Verse 3]

Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em

Then I went out to Old Joe's bar room

Em Am7 Am6

Most of my friends were there

Em B7 Em Emadd9

But nobody understood my trouble

C B7 Em Emadd9

I tell you, nobody seemed to care.

[Verse 4]

Em B7 Em

When I got back to that St. James Infirmary

Em Am Am6

All was still as night

Em B7 Em Emadd9

Sweet baby on a long low table

C B7 Em Emadd9

She was pale, and so cold and white

[Verse 5]

Em B7 Em Emadd9

And when I put my hand on her pretty face

Em Am Am7 Am6

It was cold like marble stone

Em B7 Em Emadd9

And I knowed that no woman could ever take her place

C B7 Em Emadd9

Lord it made me feel so alone

[Instrumental break]

Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em

Em Emadd9 Am Am7 Am6

Em B7 Em Emadd9

C B7 Em Emadd9

[Verse 6]

Em B7 Em Emadd9

She's gone, she's gone God bless her

Em Am Am6

Where-ever she might be

Em B7 Em Em6

If she'd searched this whole world over

C B7 Em Emadd9

She wouldn't have found a friend like me

[Verse 7]

Em B7 Em Emadd9

Give me my box back coat and my button shoes

Em Am Am7 Am6

when you've laid me down to sleep

Em B7 Em Emadd9

Put these old guitar picks right up in my lapel

C B7 Em Emadd9

And fellas set this old guitar right down by my feet

[Verse 8]

Em B7 Em Emadd9

Went down to that St. James Infirmary

Emadd9 Am Amadd6

Heard my sweet baby groan

Em B7 Em Em9

Nobody down there could cheer me

C B7 Em Emadd9

'Cause I knowed that she'd soon be gone

[Outro Instrumental]

Em B7 Em Emadd9 Em

Em Emadd9 Am Am7 Amadd6

Em B7 Em Emadd9

C B7 Em Emadd9

About St James Infirmary Chords by Doc Watson

Learn how to play St James Infirmary by Doc Watson with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “St James Infirmary chords”, “St James Infirmary guitar chords”, or “Doc Watson St James Infirmary chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy St James Infirmary chords and for experienced players who want accurate St James Infirmary lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Em7, Emadd9, Em6, Am6, Am7, C.

FAQ — St James Infirmary by Doc Watson

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What key is "St James Infirmary" in?

The chords for "St James Infirmary" show the original chord names (including Em7, Emadd9, Em6, Am6, Am7, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.