St. James Infirmary

Sad Days

American democracy was already on the ropes. But now, with the passing of Justice Bader-Ginsberg, many of the progressive advances that have been so painfully obtained are at risk. We also have the added concern that the Supreme Court may no longer serve as a brake on authoritarianism. The country may take a turn down a right wing dead end. It’s a sad state of affairs.

So, let’s have a good cry, and then let’s get back in the ring and fight for democracy. Here’s another addition to the St. James Infirmary Compendium so you can get a good cry and then move on.

I went down to old Joe’s bar room, on the corner of the square
The drinks were served as usual, and the usual crowd was there

In the corner sat old Joe McKennedy, and his eyes were bloodshot red
I sat down at the table right beside him, and these were the words he said

I went down to St. James infirmary, I saw my baby there
She was stretched out on a long white table,
So young, so cold, so bare

Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be
She may search this whole wide world over
She’ll never find a sweeter man as me

When I die please bury me in my good suit, the blue one, double-breasted
Put a twenty dollar gold piece on my watch chain
So the boys’ll know I went standing pat

Get out the crepe and the flowers, get out that old rubber-tired hack

‘Cause there’s seven men going to the graveyard

And only six be coming back

Note from the editor:

The above is Bumba’s decidedly unofficial version of the lyrics. For some reason, Bumba always throws in the line about being buried in a “blue suit double breasted”. Also, he always seem to throw in that sardonic verse about “seven men going to the graveyard and only six be coming back”. Such is the folk music process, and such is Bumba’s sense of humor. The editor hopes you will sing along anyway.

It’s time for another St. James Infirmary post. We have a St. James Infirmary Compendium here at Bumbastories (look in the header). In case you haven’t heard, St. James Infirmary is one of the all-time great American folk songs. Bumba and Maybank are hooked on it, and here present yet another version recorded earlier this week. Sing along, play along. Listen to Louis Armstrong do it. Or Cab Calloway. Meanwhile you can check out our latest go at it.

What more to say about St. James Infirmary? Robert J. Harwood wrote a book about it. Dozens of great artists have recorded it, and naturally, like all folk songs, there are various versions and interpretations. Purportedly, the song is rooted in a 17th century English folksong and references a London hospital for lepers. In America, St. James Infirmary gradually morphed into a gambler’s lament, a cathouse anthem, and finally, a New Orleans classic. The one constant is the sadness. The question remains: why do we like sad songs so much? There’s definitely something strange about us humans. In any case,we love to play this song. So,”put a $20 gold piece in my watch chain so the boys’ll know I went standin’ pat.”

OH NO! It’s the Ides of March! Magazine!

Yes, the ides of March are upon us! “Beware the ides of March,” is what they say. People get jittery on March 15. Don’t ask me why. I think it’s Shakespeare’s fault. He eternalized the expression in Julius Caesar. Hundreds of years later, they made us read Julius Caesar in seventh grade. They (the teachers) used to force Shakespeare upon us when we were mere babes. I remember that Julius Caesar was of the few Shakespearean plays that I could almost follow.

Certainly to Beware the Ides of March! was sound advice for old Julius Caesar. He definitely should have exercised a bit more caution on March 15. However, for the rest of us, us non-patricians, us plain old guys, I don’t think the Ides of March is anything to get our knickers in a knot about. I believe it’s quite sufficient to just keep our wits about us and to be approximately equally careful at all times of the year. Why be careful just on March 15? Why should March 15 portend anything? And what are ides anywaze?

Firstly: ides in Latin just means the middle of the month. Two thousand plus years ago, the Romans didn’t divide their months into thirty numbered days, but into three reference points – and ides was the middle one. Back in the day, even before the Romans, the Ides of March was like New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. The first full moon of spring announced the new year – replete with religious precessions through the streets of Rome. There were sacrifices of sheep. Bonfires. Mass gatherings. The whole nine yards. It was a time of potential political unrest. Imagine New Year’s Eve in the streets of ancient Rome. A definite “Oh oh” if you’re Julius Caesar. Also an oh oh if you happen to be a sheep. Not a meh meh. So, as we hit March 15, beware the ides of March if you happen to be a sheep. Otherwise, it should be cool.

In the ides of March spirit, here’s another contribution to the St. James Infirmary Compendium, dedicated to the memory of the great Cab Calloway. Check out the unbelievable Cab Calloway’s U Tubes.

Musical Sloth

I used to write (Check out Bumbabooks). I also used read more. Looking back, I have to conclude that my “level of functioning”, my “productivity”, has definitely declined. I suppose I could blame the computer age for some of that. But mostly I would have to credit my reduced literary output to one of my favorite cardinal sins: SLOTH.

Yes, sloth. Good old laziness. Good old kickin the can down the road. All by way of saying that today’s blog is just some songs Maybank and I were doing the other night. I’ll include another entry into the St. James Infirmary Compendium. The Stones’ Love in Vain, Dylan’s Easy Chair, and some blues. I’ve posted most of these songs before, but I do think Maybank and I are getting better on some of these covers, and like I said, I’m a bit too lazy. Anyhow, I need to save up my strength for the upcoming impeachment struggle. The Michael Cohen public hearings ought to be a riot.

Here’s Love in Vain by Robert Johnson (we do the Stones’ version that throws in a relative minor, but remains adults only otherwise).

Here’s just a blues jam we were trying

Here’s another St. James Compendium entry: St. James Infirmary

And here’s Bob Dylan’s Easy Chair

Happy Holidays!

Hurray for New Orleans

St. James Infirmary and House of the Rising Sun, two of the greatest of American folksongs. Both “happen” to come from that great city at the great delta of the Mississippi River, New Orleans. The mingling of different cultures seems to create good things. How ‘bout that? So here’s to the city of New Orleans.
Reader, be warned! Both these songs are dirges, so be careful. Why so many wonderful songs are so sad, well, that’s another question. Personally, I’m just hoping you will sing along.

I’ve written about both of these songs before on the blog. Check out the Compendia listings in the header if you’re interested. Anyway, Maybank and I like to play them, and if you never heard these songs before, check out Louis Armstrong’s rendition of St James Infirmary. BTW, Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans on July 4, 1900.

And I’ll throw in here a song of my own composition, also a tribute to that proud city on the edge of a sandy embankment. nola122015 nola11214 nola10213

OMG! It’s the Ides of March Again! Magazine

Yes, the ides of March are upon us! Again!! “Beware the ides of March,” is what they say. People get jittery on March 15. Don’t ask me why. I think it’s Shakespeare’s fault. He eternalized the expression in Julius Caesar. They made us read Julius Caesar in seventh grade. They (the teachers) used to force Shakespeare upon us when we were mere babes. I remember that Julius Caesar was of the few Shakespearean plays that I could follow.

Firstly: ides in Latin just means the middle of the month. Two thousand plus years ago, the Romans didn’t divide their months into thirty numbered days, but into three reference points – and ides was the middle one. Back in the day, even before the Romans, the Ides of March was like New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. The first full moon of spring announced the new year – replete with religious precessions through the streets of Rome. There were sacrifices of sheep. The whole nine yards. It was a time of potential political unrest. Imagine New Year’s Eve in the streets of ancient Rome. A definite “Oh oh” if you’re Julius Caesar. Also an oh oh if you happen to be a sheep. Not a meh meh. So, beware the ides of March if you happen to be a sheep. Otherwise, it should be cool.

St. James Infirmary

Question: Is St. James Infirmary a major blues classic that’s in minor key, or is it minor key blues classic that’s major? I realize that these are serious questions. In any case, it’s a fabulous song that Maybank and Bumba love to play, and here goes two more proud additions to the Bumbastories‘ St. James Infirmary Compendium

OMG! It’s the Ides of March! Magazine

Yes, the ides of March are upon us! “Beware the ides of March,” is what they say. Actually Shakespeare said it. Certainly to beware the Ides of March was good advice for Julius Caesar back in the day, but for the rest of us I think it’s quite sufficient to just keep our wits about us and to be approximately equally careful at all times of the year. Why just March 15? Why should March 15 portend anything, and what are ides anyway?

Firstly: ides in Latin just means the middle of a month. Two thousand plus years ago, the Romans divided their months not into thirty numbered days, but into three reference points – and ides was the middle one. Back in the day, the Ides of March was New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day. The first full moon of spring announced the new year – replete with religious precessions through the streets of Rome and sacrifices of sheep! So definitely beware the ides of March if you happen to be a sheep. Otherwise, it should be cool.

And in the ides of March spirit, here’s another contribution to the St. James Infirmary Compendium, dedicated to the memory of the great Cab Calloway. Check out the unbelievable Cab Calloway’s U Tubes.

What? Another St. James Infirmary ?

“Wait a minute, Bumba. We know that this blog is called Every Day Another Story and that sometimes you might feel a bit of pressure to post like every day. But still, all the same, gee whiz Bumba, didn’t you post the St. James Infirmary just last week? Compendium, comshmendium, isn’t this a bit too much St. James Infirmary?”

Well, yeah. I suppose you’re right…..Anyhoo, this St James Infirmary is a different tune and lyric altogether from the standard one. Furthermore, Maybank and I like to do both versions. So there! You don’t have to click and hear it. It’s voluntary (Spoiler alert: this version is awfully doleful and it could be that it’s even maybe more doleful than the standard St. James Infirmary) Doc Watson does a version of St. James Infirmary like this, and anyway, Maybank does a swell job of singing this one. So there! audio mp3=”https://bumbastories.files.wordpress.com/2016/06/loredostjames062216.mp3″%5D

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Another Visit to The St. James Infirmary

A dirge to cheer you on your way today. Wha? A sad song like St. James Infirmary provides a sense of perspective. Wha? It’ll have you whistling down the street. Wha?

St. James Infirmary is a great, 150 year-old, minor key blues from the city of New Orleans course. Maybank and Bumba played it yesterday in Los Angeles, of course. Wha?