Doc Watson- St. James Hospital

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=224Sy5PcmU4

This is my favorite rendition of St. James Infirmary/ Streets of Laredo/ Unfortunate Rake. It goes by many names but it is the story of a Cowboy or soldier (depending on the version) in the last minutes of his life.

Early one morning, past the St. James Hospital

Early one morning, morn in the month of May
When I looked through the window,
And I spied a dear cowboy
A dear cowboy, as cold as the clay

Set ye down by me, and hear my sad story
Set ye down by me, and sing me a song
For my poor head is aching,
And my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor cowboy, that know'd he done wrong

Send for that doctor, to come and heal up my body
And send for the preacher, to come and pray for my soul
For my poor head is aching,
And my sad heart is breaking
I'm a poor cowboy, and hell is my doom

Get sixteen pretty maidens, to come and carry my coffin
Sixteen pretty maidens, to come and sing me a song
And tell 'em to bring some of them sweet smelling roses
So they can't smell me as they tote me along

Beat the drum slowly, and play the fife lowly
Play the death march as ye carry me along
Throw bunches of lillies all over my coffin
"There goes a poor cowboy, that know'd he done wrong."