#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song.You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research.  #
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From: Rob Hampton  (rob@heartwoodguitar.com)
Website: http://www.heartwoodguitar.com/

Need help deciphering this, visit: http://www.heartwoodguitar.com/chordguide.htm


St. James Infirmary Blues
Traditional, as performed by Arlo Guthrie

Capo 2

Intro:  Instrumental Verse


        Am (½)  E7 (½)   Am
It was down at old Joe's bar room
        Am (½)      Fmaj7 (½) C (½)   E7 (½)
At the corner      by the square
           Am (½)   E7 (½)   Am (½)   Am/G (½)
They were serving drinks as usual
        Fmaj7 (½)      E7 (½)    Am
And the usual         crowd was there

 

       Am (½)     E7 (½)      Am
On my left stood big Joe MacKennedy
    Am (½)        Fmaj7 (½)   C (½)   E7 (½)
His eyes were bloodshot     red
           Am (½)        E7 (½)       Am (½)   Am/G (½)
And as he looked at the gang around him
       Fmaj7 (½)     E7 (½)          Am
These were the very words he said

 

       Am (½)   E7 (½)     Am
I went down to St. James Infirmary
Am (½)          Fmaj7 (½)     C (½)   E7 (½)
     I saw my baby          there
          Am (½)   E7 (½)       Am (½)   Am/G (½)
Stretched out on a long, white table
    Fmaj7 (½)   E7 (½)    Am
So young, so   cold, so fair

 

Am (½)          E7 (½)      Am
     Seventeen coal-black horses
Am (½)         Fmaj7 (½)   C (½)   E7 (½)
Hitched to a rubber-tied hack
 Am (½)      E7 (½)        Am (½)   Am/G (½)
Seven girls goin' to the graveyard
      Fmaj7 (½)       E7 (½)    Am
Only six of them are coming back

 

         Am (½)      E7 (½)         Am
Let her go. Let her go, God bless her
Am (½)       Fmaj7 (½)   C (½)   E7 (½)
   Wherever she may     be
        Am (½)       E7 (½)      Am (½)   Am/G (½)
She may search this wide world over
          Fmaj7 (½)     E7 (½)   Am   
And never find another man like me

 

Instrumental Verse x2

 

Am (½)         E7 (½)    Am
        When I die just bury me
Am (½)       Fmaj7 (½)         C (½)   E7 (½)
      In my high-top Stetson hat
          Am (½)        E7 (½)            Am (½)       Am/G (½)
Place a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain
            Fmaj7 (½)   E7 (½)        Am    
To let the Lord know I died standing pat

 

        Am (½)           E7 (½)     Am
I want six crap-shooters for my pallbearers
    Am (½)         Fmaj7 (½)  C (½)   E7 (½)
A chorus girl to sing me a   song
         Am (½)       E7 (½)      Am (½)       Am/G (½)
Place a jazz band on my hearse wagon
     Fmaj7 (½)       E7 (½)       Am   
To raise hell as we roll along

 

Am (½)                  E7 (½)  Am
     Now that you've heard my story
Am (½)                     Fmaj7 (½)     C (½)   E7 (½)
      I'll take another shot of       booze
Am (½)                 E7 (½)     Am (½)    Am/G (½)
       And if anyone here should ask you
Fmaj7 (½)        E7 (½)     Am   
    I've got the gambler's blues

 

Instrumental Verse, end on Am




Instrumental Verse

                                  Am          E7
  E |--------------------------|--0--0--------0-----------|
  B |--------------------1--3--|-----------1-----3--------|
  G |--------------------------|-----------------------0--|
  D |--------------------------|--------2-----------2-----|
  A |--------------------------|--0-----------------------|
  E |--------------------------|--------------0-----------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  

 

       Am                         Am          Fmaj7
  E |-----------------------0--|--0--0--------5--3-----0--|
  B |--1-----------------------|--------------------------|
  G |-----2--------------------|--------------------5-----|
  D |--------2-----------2-----|--------2-----3-----------|
  A |--0-----------------------|--0-----------------------|
  E |--------------0-----------|--------------------------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  

 

       C           E7             Am          E7
  E |-----------------0-----0--|--5--0-----0--0-----------|
  B |--------------------------|--------1-----------3-----|
  G |--------------------------|--------------------------|
  D |--------2-----------2-----|--------------------------|
  A |--3-----------2-----------|--0-----------3-----2-----|
  E |--------------------------|--------------------------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  

 

       Am          Am/G           Fmaj7       E7
  E |--------------------------|--------------------------|
  B |--1--------------1--------|--1--1--------0-----------|
  G |-----2-----------------0--|-----------2-----1-----2--|
  D |--------2-----------2-----|--------3-----------2-----|
  A |--0-----------------------|--------------------------|
  E |--------------3-----------|--1-----------0-----------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  

 

       Am
  E |--------------------------|
  B |--------------------------|
  G |--------------------------|
  D |--------2----------2------|
  A |--0-----------------------|
  E |--------------0-----------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +