I Went Down to St. James Infirmary is the quintessential jazz-blues song of the early twentieth century. Many major performing and recording artists have covered it, from Louis Armstrong and Jimmie Rodgers to Van Morrison and the White Stripes; new variations emerge every year. Infused with ego-driven angst and once considered obscene because of the song's stark depiction of death and the portrayal of a seedy underworld inhabited by gamblers, pimps, loose women, and every sort of rounder, it has been adapted, rewritten, borrowed, stolen, attacked, revered, and cherished. In its heyday of the 1920s and ‘30s, when recordings and sheet music of St. James Infirmary were first packaged and marketed, the public could not get enough of it. Over a hundred years later, its allure remains. Author Robert W. Harwood follows the song as it travels from its folk origins into the recording studios, performance stages, and law courts of America's jazz era. Along the way he picks up a retinue of fascinating characters whose stories are as rich as the song itself. Infused with humor and supported by meticulous research, this groundbreaking book explores the turbulent and mysterious history of one of the most important and influential songs of our times. However, the history and evolution of "St. James Infirmary" is both tangled and slippery. Whenever research into the song seems complete, new information emerges that deepens the story. While Harwood was convinced that the 3rd edition marked the end of his task, he felt that sufficient new evidence warranted this 4th edition. Always interesting and engaging, the song and its history will continue to entertain, inform, charm and disarm. ​ "A goldmine of information with a fascinating cast of characters. The definitive statement on the subject — and a very entertaining read to boot." — Rob Walker, author of The Art of Noticing, Buying In, and Letters from New Orleans "What better way to honour a great song than to tell a great story about it?" — David Fulmer, author of The Blue Door, The Dying Crapshooter's Blues and Chasing the Devil's Tail "[ I Went Down to St James Infirmary ] is a fascinating study and anyone who has an interest ... in the way songs evolve and are passed along through history will find it an utterly compelling read. This critic confesses to a weakness for this type of book and devoured it with relish over a few days, though it will retain a favourite place in his library and remain a reference for years to come." — Barry Hammond, Penguin Eggs Music Magazine "No biography of Irving Mills has been written. The best short treatment of his life and work is in Harwood (I Went Down to St. James Infirmary)." — Terry Teachout, author of Duke, A Life of Duke Ellington ​ "Harwood is a rara avis. That this Irish-Canadian finds within him the inspired doggedness to try and unravel this massive ball of tangled yarn not just once, but now for the third time in a decade and a half is an enigma in itself. He does it in amazing detail ... This work is unique, so if you don't have it, get it." — Malcolm Shaw, Vintage Jazz Mart Review "He approached the subject with the care, caution and tenacity of an investigative reporter." — Andrew Lawrence, Community Guitar Resources "I am thrilled beyond belief at your great story! You found things about Carl that I didn't even know!!" — Margie Moore (wife of Carl Moore, co-author of the first music sheet of St. James Infirmary ) "Came home to it last night, and devoured it in a sitting - wow. I'd picked up bits of the story from the blog, but the book was an absolute feast. These are wonderful stories and you tell them so beautifully, with some truly spectacular coups like the Mills family history, and a fascinating narrative that turns out to be less about what historical truths we can recover than how the stories end up getting told." — Nick Lowe (University of London, Department of Classics and Philosophy) "I've really enjoyed it! Brilliant. The book has given me an enormous amount of pleasure." — Richard Jenkins, Professor of Sociology, University of Sheffield, England "A fascinating and well-written book ... Robert Harwood's book is not the first devoted to one song, but it is the first to cross so many stylistic fences in its attempt to trace the origins of a tune, one which is lost in the mists of time." — Mark Berresford, review for VJM's Blues and Jazz Mart "Robert Harwood's exegesis on the blues classic 'St. James Infirmary' reassures readers that, in an era of instant messaging and blogs, there are still dedicated writers interested in expressing their disinterested preoccupation with cultural artifacts that have touched thousands of people in Europe and in the US over more than a century." — Charles Cronin, musician and copyright lawyer, who also manages the Music Copyright Infringement Resource at University of California. "I have to congratulate you on a superb job. You cover just ab