The song "Saint James Infirmary Blues" is a classic American blues song that has been covered by many artists over the years, including Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. This particular version by Jon Batiste is a modern take on the traditional song. The lyrics of the song tell a story about the narrator visiting the Saint James Infirmary, a place associated with illness and death. There, the narrator sees their lover lying on a table, presumably deceased. The narrator remarks on their lover's beauty and expresses their sorrow and acceptance of the situation. The song also includes a sense of self-assuredness and ego as the narrator claims that their lover will never find another person like them, a sharp-dressing and piano-playing man. Ultimately, the song ends with the narrator acknowledging that their story has come to an end, and if anyone asks, they can say that the narrator had the Saint James Infirmary blues, implying that they experienced the emotions and hardships associated with the place. Overall, "Saint James Infirmary Blues" is a melancholic song that explores themes of love, loss, and personal identity in the face of death.
