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St. James Infirmary

by Rufus Wainwright

on House of Rufus (2011), Rufus Wainwright (25th Anniversary Edition) (2023)

[Rufus]
Early one morning at the St. James Infirmary
Early one morning in the month of May
I spied a young cowboy all wrapped in white linen
All wrapped in white linen, and as cold as the clay

[Rufus, Martha, Kate]
Come sit down beside me, come and hear my sad story
Come sit down beside me, come and hear my sad song
And tell me, for my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor, rundown cowboy and Hell is my doom

[Norah]
Call for the doctor, come and heal my body
Call for the preacher, for to heal up my soul
For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor, rundown cowboy and Hell is my doom

[All]
Get me six pretty maidens, come and carry my coffin
Six pretty maidens to come and carry me home
And tell them to bring some of them sweet-smelling lilies
So they won't have to smell me as they carry me along

For my poor head is aching and my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor, rundown cowboy and Hell is my doom