Anonymous, ca. 1925
Can be played in 4/4 or 3/4 time. See Wikipedia article.
1-4-5 chord structure, identified below as Im (1 minor), etc.
Im
It was down a old Joe's barroom
IVm
On the corner by the square.
Im
The drinks were served as usual,
V Im
and the usual crowd was there.
On my left stood big Joe McKennedy,
And his eyes were blood shot red.
He looked at the gang around him
And these were the words he said.
I went down to the Saint James infirm'ry,
I saw my baby there.
She was stretched out on a long while table
So cold, so pale, so fair.
Let her go let her go god bless her,
Wherever she may be.
She can ramble this wide world over,
And never find another man like me.
Now when I die please bury me,
in my hightop Stetson hat.
Just put a twenty dollar gold piece on my
watch chain.
So the gang will know I'm standing pat.
I want six crap shooters for my pall bearers,
And a chorus girl to sing me a song.
Put a jazz band on my hearse wagon,
Just to raise hell as we roll along.
And now that you've heard my story,
I'll take another shot of booze.
If anyone should happen to ask you,
I've got the gambler's blues.