The lyrics depict a scene in Old Joe's barroom where a man named Joe McGuinny recounts visiting his dead lover in the St. James Infirmary. He expresses his love for her and asserts that she will never find another man like him.

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Meaning of "St. James Infirmary" by Hans Theessink


"St. James Infirmary" is a classic blues song that delves into themes of love, loss, and mortality. The narrator's visit to the infirmary to see his deceased lover reveals a deep sense of grief and longing. The lyrics convey a sense of regret and a desire to hold onto a love that has been lost. The repetition of the lines "Let her go, let her go, God bless her" suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance of the finality of death. The narrator's insistence that his lover will never find another man like him speaks to feelings of uniqueness and irreplaceability in love. Overall, the song captures the bittersweet emotions that accompany loss and the enduring impact of a past love on the narrator.