I went down to St. James Infirmary
And I heard my baby goan
And I felt so broken hearted
She used to be my very own
I tried so hard to keep from crying
My heart felt just like lead
She was all that I had to live for
Oh, I wish it was me instead
Now she’s gone, she’s gone and may God bless her
Wherever she may be
She can search this wide world over
Oh, but she’ll never find a man like me
She’s gone, she’s gone…
She’s gone
One word……..ignorance. Thankfully, I had the good fortune to see The Man at the height of his vocal powers during the Duke years. There will never be another bluesman like Bobby, who didn't need a guitar, harp, or any other props other than that amazing voice and incomparable stage presence.
Bobby was a giant among the bluesman. When we lost Bobby, we lost one of the great ones. It will be a long time before someone comes along and pick up the ball where Bobby left off. R.I.P. Bobby Blue Bland.
Generally I'm only a moderate fan of BB, as his "howling" gets on my nerves. But when he sings, he's got an absolutely remarkable voice, and this song is a perfect showcase for it. Just phenomenal.