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O Baby! (The Gambler's Blues)

from Campfire Demos Vol. 1 by Will Chiles

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about

This song was inspired by the folk song, Gambler's Blues, or Saint James Infirmary.
It’s a tragic story that’s been told by many different musicians in many different ways.
Some say this story was first told in Dublin in the mid 1700s...

A gambler learns of his sweetheart’s death by syphilis (a sexually transmitted infection) when he walks past the hospital and sees her being carried away.

In this he learns two things:
His lover has died unexpectedly. He's broken hearted to lose her.
And, due to the nature of syphilis, he’s dying, too.

It's reaaaaallllly nice to sing with an audience.

lyrics

[Refrain Intro]
Oh, Baby

[Chorus 1]
When I go lay me down
In a wedding suit and hat
Gold ring in my mouth
Lord knows I’ve paid my debts

[Verse 1]
I was in the Doctor’s parlor
The nightly crowd was there
A-gambling as usual
With any one who dared

[Verse 2]
On my left stood Joe McKenny
His eyes bloodshot and red
He gazed at the crowd around him
And these are the words he said:

he said…

[Refrain]
Oh, Baby

[Verse 3 (like Chorus)]
I passed the Infirmary
When I saw her quiet there
Being borne to the hillside
My baby, still and fair

[Interlude]
oo...

[Verse 4]
Let her go, let her go, God bless her
Wherever she may be.
There’ll never be another like her.
She’ll never find another like me!

[Chorus 3 ]
When I go lay me down
In a wedding suit and hat
A gold ring in my mouth
Lord knows I’ve paid my debt

[Bridge]
Now you’ve heard my story
And all my Gambler’s Blues
Don’t you ask me if I’m bluffing
I’ve got nothing left to lose
I’ve got nothing left to lose

We’ve got -

[Refrain]
Oh, Baby

[Chorus 4, over refrain]
When I go lay me down
In a wedding suit and hat
A gold ring in my mouth
Lord knows I’ve paid my debt

[Refrain]
Oh, Baby

[Verse 2 Reprise]
On my left stood Joe McKenny
His eyes bloodshot and red
He gazed at the crowd around him…

And these are the words he said

credits

from Campfire Demos Vol. 1, released November 22, 2022

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Will Chiles Springfield, Missouri

Will Chiles is a musician and tree farmer rooted in the Ozarks.

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