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PostPosted: Mon Jan 01, 1990 1:01 am
  

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The W!zard

Joined: Aug 25, 1999
Posts: 1058
Images: 108
Location: Leonardtown, MD
St. James Infirmary
Traditional, as performed by Arlo Guthrie

From: Heartwood Guitar Instruction

 

Capo 2

 

Intro:  Instrumental Verse

 

           Am (½)   E7 (½)   Am

It was down at old Joe's bar room

           Am (½)     Fmaj7 (½) C (½)   E7 (½)

At the corner      by the square

                 Am (½)   E7 (½)   Am (½)   Am/G (½)

They were serving drinks as usual

             Fmaj7 (½)   E7 (½)      Am

And the usual         crowd was there

 

            Am (½)    E7 (½)          Am

On my left stood big Joe MacKennedy

      Am (½)          Fmaj7 (½)  C (½)   E7 (½)

His eyes were bloodshot     red

                Am (½)           E7 (½)           Am (½)   Am/G (½)

And as he looked at the gang around him

             Fmaj7 (½)     E7 (½)           Am

These were the very words he said.

 

           Am (½)   E7 (½)        Am

I went down to St. James Infirmary

Am (½)            Fmaj7 (½)  C (½)   E7 (½)

     I saw my baby          there

               Am (½)   E7 (½)          Am (½)   Am/G (½)

Stretched out on a long, white table

      Fmaj7 (½)  E7 (½)    Am

So young, so   cold, so fair

 

Am (½)            E7 (½)        Am

     Seventeen coal-black horses

Am (½)           Fmaj7 (½)   C (½)   E7 (½)

Hitched to a rubber-tied hack

 Am (½)        E7 (½)          Am (½)   Am/G (½)

Seven girls goin' to the graveyard

         Fmaj7 (½)        E7 (½)    Am

Only six of them are coming back

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Am (½)        E7 (½)            Am

Let her go. Let her go, God bless her

Am (½)         Fmaj7 (½)  C (½)   E7 (½)

   Wherever she may     be

              Am (½)        E7 (½)        Am (½)   Am/G (½)

She may search this wide world over

                Fmaj7 (½)     E7 (½)    Am   

And never find another man like me

 

Instrumental Verse x2

 

Am (½)          E7 (½)    Am

        When I die just bury me

Am (½)       Fmaj7 (½)           C (½)   E7 (½)

      In my high-top Stetson hat

              Am (½)         E7 (½)                  Am (½)       Am/G (½)

Place a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain

                Fmaj7 (½)    E7 (½)           Am    

To let the Lord know I died standing pat

 

           Am (½)              E7 (½)      Am

I want six crap-shooters for my pallbearers

      Am (½)         Fmaj7 (½)  C (½)   E7 (½)

A chorus girl to sing me a   song

            Am (½)          E7 (½)          Am (½)       Am/G (½)

Place a jazz band on my hearse wagon

       Fmaj7 (½)       E7 (½)       Am   

To raise hell as we roll along

 

Am (½)                       E7 (½)    Am

     Now that you've heard my story

Am (½)                        Fmaj7 (½)  C (½)   E7 (½)

      I'll take another shot of       booze

Am (½)                     E7 (½)       Am (½)    Am/G (½)

       And if anyone here should ask you

Fmaj7 (½)        E7 (½)       Am   

    I've got the gambler's blues

 

Instrumental Verse, end on Am  

 

 

St. James Infirmary

Instrumental Verse

 
                                  Am          E7
  E |--------------------------|--0--0--------0-----------|
  B |--------------------1--3--|-----------1-----3--------|
  G |--------------------------|-----------------------0--|
  D |--------------------------|--------2-----------2-----|
  A |--------------------------|--0-----------------------|
  E |--------------------------|--------------0-----------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  
 
       Am                         Am          Fmaj7
  E |-----------------------0--|--0--0--------5--3-----0--|
  B |--1-----------------------|--------------------------|
  G |-----2--------------------|--------------------5-----|
  D |--------2-----------2-----|--------2-----3-----------|
  A |--0-----------------------|--0-----------------------|
  E |--------------0-----------|--------------------------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  
 
       C           E7             Am          E7
  E |-----------------0-----0--|--5--0-----0--0-----------|
  B |--------------------------|--------1-----------3-----|
  G |--------------------------|--------------------------|
  D |--------2-----------2-----|--------------------------|
  A |--3-----------2-----------|--0-----------3-----2-----|
  E |--------------------------|--------------------------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  
 
       Am          Am/G           Fmaj7       E7
  E |--------------------------|--------------------------|
  B |--1--------------1--------|--1--1--------0-----------|
  G |-----2-----------------0--|-----------2-----1-----2--|
  D |--------2-----------2-----|--------3-----------2-----|
  A |--0-----------------------|--------------------------|
  E |--------------3-----------|--1-----------0-----------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +     1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  
 
       Am
  E |--------------------------|
  B |--------------------------|
  G |--------------------------|
  D |--------2----------2------|
  A |--0-----------------------|
  E |--------------0-----------|
       1  +  2  +  3  +  4  +  
 
 
This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song.  It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research.


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 Post subject: Saint James Infirmary
PostPosted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 8:41 pm
  

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ArloNetizen

Joined: Aug 02, 2009
Posts: 72
Location: North East Pennsylvania
A couple of years ago I got to fulfill a twenty year dream and finally got to see Arlo Guthrie live. He was just as awesome as I knew he'd be.

In the concert he did a song I had never heard before that I instantly fell in love with and I drove myself nuts all the way home trying to memorize just a couple of lines so I could Google it as soon as I got through the door.

It was St. James Infirmary and, upon further research, I found about a dozen other performers who have done the song over the years. Unfortunately, I can NOT find any mention of Arlo ever having recorded the song.

I wonder, does anyone know if he ever did and, if so, where I might find a version of Arlo performing this song? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, in advance,

- Bill Lee


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:04 pm
  

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Arlo Fanatic

Joined: Aug 25, 1999
Posts: 1883
Location: Wantagh, NY
hi filthybill

you can find a recording of arlo doing St. James Infirmary live on the In Times Like These album if I'm not mistaken.


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:06 pm
  

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Joined: Jul 06, 2008
Posts: 2531
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Location: Crawfordville, Florida
Hey Bill, Welcome!!! Go to youtube and search " jguth3 - St. James Infirmary "......I know there's at least one video of it by Arlo. It's also recorded on his CD, "Live From Sidney"......I've heard many versions of it by many people over the years, it was one of the first songs I ever played......in my opinion, Arlo's is the best. Enjoy :D


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:09 pm
  

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Joined: Jul 06, 2008
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Location: Crawfordville, Florida
Oh yeah, What Arnie said......I think he's got The Bain Cell :shock:


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PostPosted: Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:37 pm
  

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ArloNetizen

Joined: Aug 02, 2009
Posts: 72
Location: North East Pennsylvania
Thanks for the welcome guys!

You are correct, Arnie. I just found In Times Like These on amazon. Thank you so much for the point in the right direction!

- Bill


Last edited by FilthyBill on Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 5:30 am
  

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Joined: Dec 06, 1999
Posts: 1631
Location: Ogdensburg, NY ST. Lawrence
Mississipi John Hurt, does an ausome rendition.

There's a movie, ( won't think of the name or actess that starred ) but it's a murder mystery, and the villons try and scare her. They had kidnpped her son, from a playground in school... There's a scene where there's a funeral prosession, ( taken place in New Orleans, where they don't bury the casscetts, and in one scene, the villain, takes her in a tomb, where he bury's her with a dead person..

anyhow, during the funeral procession there's a marching band, and they Play St. James Infirmary, instrumental... It's one of my fav renditons, as it's all those horns, and drums, and very slow paced...

The trombone, and the brass section makes it such a mornfull tune....


Somebody help me with the name of this flic..

Tx in advance/ RB

ntm: Welcome to the site FilthBill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xo0gUj53T0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHh4wBGQZD0


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 7:11 am
  

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ArloNetizen

Joined: Aug 02, 2009
Posts: 72
Location: North East Pennsylvania
I'm a fan of the White Stripes myself but was very dissapointed when I heard their version of it. I actually found their version somewhere a while back, with the claim that it was Arlo! Ah well...


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:37 pm
  

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The Folkslinger

Joined: Nov 23, 1999
Posts: 1129
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Location: Housatonic, MA
Actually I like the version we did on "In Times Like These" with the University of Kentucky student symphony orchestra - that's the best one I've done far as I'm concerned...


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:59 pm
  

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Quote:
Actually I like the version we did on "In Times Like These" with the University of Kentucky student symphony orchestra - that's the best one I've done far as I'm concerned...


Absolutely although the performance with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra is quite good precisely because it is truly ambiently live. Your voice is rougher and more passionate and that suits the style. You did sort of give the trumpet player a look at one point. :wink:

The score you have for that song smokes.


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:43 am
  

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Joined: Sep 15, 2001
Posts: 3682
Location: Dallas, Texas
FilthyBill wrote:
I just found In Times Like These on amazon....

BTW, you can also buy it from the folkslinger hisself--just click on the gray "Get Stuff" button to the left of this. Buying directly from Rising Son Records (Arlo's label) cuts out that pesky Corporate middle. Plus, if you call rather than order online, you get to talk to really great people. Just wanted to be sure you knew.


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:16 pm
  

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ArloNetizen

Joined: Aug 02, 2009
Posts: 72
Location: North East Pennsylvania
Sweet. I actually bought a t-shirt from the get stuff section a little while ago. I never thought to look for the CD while I was there. I'll have to check it out.

Thanks!

- Bill


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:06 pm
  

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Joined: Aug 25, 1999
Posts: 1089
Location: Ocala, FL, USA
adg wrote: "Actually I like the version we did on "In Times Like These" with the University of Kentucky student symphony orchestra - that's the best one I've done far as I'm concerned..."

Love that entire CD. The work you did with John Nardolillo and james Burton on this disc can't be beat!


mikey


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:43 pm
  

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Joined: Dec 06, 1999
Posts: 1631
Location: Ogdensburg, NY ST. Lawrence
Mikey: Yes, I have the same sentiment. It makes me wish my Mom was still with us. She was such a fan of John Nardolillo. I had told her of the collaboration with Arlo, and she seemed excited. She did catch Arlo on 'The Boston Pops' tho, and she seemed to like it. In fact, she subscribed to the PBS guide, and had told me about it, or I might not have caught it.

I've never been to a symphony gig, but have always thought it would be an ausome event. Kitty West sent me a copy of the time she played with Arlo at Carnegie Hall. I love the version of CONO, with all the horns. It really puts a whole new spin on the song. But then again, one of my favorite versions of that song, is when AG appeared the T.V. series, Renegade. Just Arlo, and a six string. I love variety, and the song stripped down, sounds great to me. I can play it, but not the way Arlo does. There's allot of rapid chord changes. e.p. I've always enjoyed playing Pete Seeger's "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" but I play it, as learned in the songbook, 'Rise Up Singing'. I noticed 'Joan Baez playing it at Pete's 90th Birthday from the Madison Square Garden show. She played it in G-C-D..... It sounds great when it's finger picked. I have a few songs I'm proud of, where I can finger pick, and add licks, inbetween the chords. But for the most part, I'm a strummer. That's why I like playing Neil Young covers. You can muffle the chords allot of the time, and bang on the box of the guitar, and get great effects. Allot of Arlo's songs are kinda hard. From my experience. "Days are Short" I can do. And 'Wouldn't You Believe It'. Then I usually start playin Woody's songs. As I find them much easier. I recently learned "Oklahoma Hills". That's a neat song to play, and the chords come easy to me..... Love the chorus to that tune also..... My Grandaughter loves horses (ponies) so she sings along with me.

I can't wait to start school & get joined up with a music club. Hopefully I'll find some folkies. I love all genres of music, but folk will always remain my favorite.

Peace out / RB


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PostPosted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:51 pm
  

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The symphony gigs are unreal. Songs like Darkest Night are good anytime but with the orchestra, well, I am a complete fool for that sound. It proves his point about sounding the same in front of him and in the back. Lush. Then when he plays solo, it sounds the same, just no orchestra. You gotta be really confident to pull that off.

St James Infirmary is the challenge. If the clarinets and horns are in the right zone, his guitar work challenges their licks slowhand bluesy precise. The version on the album is smooth compared to live but live had that edge of chaos thing that makes it a little less arrangy and a little more improvisational. His voice is deep, passionate, a little more gut and a little less head. It's a different treatment. He weaves stories in, solo bits and the big numbers.

My favorite part for pure Arlo is when he stops the symphony in the middle of This Land Is Your Land and tells the Joseph story. That whole bit is masterful humor. He's as good as Twain reading. Sometimes I read what he writes, listen to his interviews and wonder if there is an "arlo" he slips into on stage to make the stories and the music flow together. A bit of a character.

The album is the best recording but if you can catch one of those symphony gigs, by all means.

Arlo's songs are not so complex as they are simple chords made rich by the bass and the syncopation. It's not hard to memorize the progressions but the patterns are those rock-solid thumb patterns and those are hard to do. The trick is to follow the bass line he's walking and hold down the groove. I'm learning his version of Alabama Bound as close as I can because he rocks on that solo on the 12 string live.

Not a bad piano player either. :-)


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