St. James Infirmary Blues Sheet Music
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Introduction
“St. James Infirmary Blues” is a traditional jazz song that was popularized by Louis Armstrong in the 1920s. The song is about a man who goes to the St. James Infirmary, a hospital for the poor in New Orleans, and sees his lover there who has died from a broken heart. The man mourns her death and vows to never love again.
The original version of the song was written by Joe Primrose in 1928 and was titled “Gamblers Blues”. It was about a gambler who is shot and killed in a card game. Primrose’s version became popular in New Orleans and Armstrong recorded it in 1929.
Armstrong’s version changed the setting of the story from New Orleans to Chicago and made the protagonist a musician instead of a gambler. The lyrics were also changed to be about a man who visits the hospital to see his lover who has died from a broken heart.
The song became one of Armstrong’s most famous recordings and has been covered by many artists over the years.
History of the Song
The St. James Infirmary Blues is a traditional song that dates back to the 18th century. It was first recorded in the early 1900s, and has been covered by many artists over the years. The song tells the story of a man who is dying in the St. James Infirmary, a hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. The man’s lover is also mentioned in the song, and it is implied that she is the one who caused him to become ill.
The song has beencovered by many artists over the years, including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald. It has also been adapted into other genres, such as jazz and rock.
The Lyrics
I went down to St. James Infirmary
I saw my baby there
She was lying on a white-linen table
So cold, so sweet, so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She can look for me by the Georgia Pine
And she’ll find me there
I went down to St. James Infirmary
I saw my baby there
She was lying on a white-linen table
So cold, so sweet, so fair
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She can look for me by the Georgia Pine
The Music
“St. James Infirmary Blues” is a jazz standard that has been performed and recorded by many artists over the years. The music was originally composed by Joseph “King” Oliver in 1928 and was first recorded by his band, King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, that same year.
The tune became popularized in the 1930s by Louis Armstrong, who recorded it several times, and has since been performed by countless other jazz, blues, and rock artists. The lyrics to “St. James Infirmary Blues” are based on an old folk song called “The Unfortunate Rake”, which tells the story of a young man who contracts venereal disease from a prostitute and dies as a result.
While the original version of the song is fairly bleak in tone, many subsequent versions have added a more optimistic attitude, with some artists even changing the lyrics to tell a different story altogether. Regardless of the interpretation, “St. James Infirmary Blues” remains a celebrated part of jazz history and continues to be enjoyed by music lovers all over the world.
The Recording
In 1978, the French band Les Yeux Noirs recorded a version with violin and bandoneon.
In 1978, the French band Les Yeux Noirs recorded a version with violin and bandoneon. The recording appeared on the band’s self-titled debut album, which was released in France on the Le Chant du Monde label. The album was later released in the United States on the Nonesuch label.
The Legacy
The St. James Infirmary Blues is a well-known jazz standard that has been covered by a wide variety of artists over the years. The song is based on an old folk tune called The Unfortunate Rake and tells the story of a young man who dies from a venereal disease. The tune was popularized by Louis Armstrong in the 1920s, and has since been covered by everyone from Billie Holiday to The Grateful Dead.
