Dave Van Ronk - "St. James Infirmary (Gambler's Blues)" [Live at The Barns At Wolf Trap 1997]

Dave Van Ronk sings "St. James Infirmary (Gambler's Blues)" at The Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia during a 1997 concert honoring Harry Smith's 'Anthology of American Folk Music.' This previously unreleased recording is included on the Dave Van Ronk box set 'Down in Washington Square: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection.'
Videography by John Paulson, Abby Sternberg
Directed by Charles Weber
Edited by Alexander Jusdanis
'Down in Washington Square: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection' is available on a 3xCD box set and Digital.
Stream/download/purchase:
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Called “The Mayor of MacDougal Street,” Dave Van Ronk (1936-2002) was a leading figure in the Greenwich Village music scene for more than four decades. He epitomized the urban “folksinger”- apprenticing through immersion in the music revival’s New York City epicenter of Washington Square Park. Drawing from and developing a wide repertoire of songs, guitar techniques, and performing skills, he mentored younger musicians and songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Jack Hardy, Suzanne Vega, Christine Lavin, and many others. 'Down in Washington Square' includes 16 never-before-released recordings coupled with tracks from the Smithsonian Folkways archive, spanning early live recordings made in 1958 (one year before his first Folkways album) to his final studio recordings in 2001, just months before his death. It paints a musical mosaic of Van Ronk’s artistry and expands his legacy, keeping alive the genius of a legendary performer who inspired audiences, musicians, and a major motion picture - "Inside Llewyn Davis," written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen.
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[@gwynnielsen5081]

I am always amazed at how folk music has continued to find a voice. This man had a voice a while ago, yet I am sure his fans keep him alive today.

[@rubensterf674]

Look at this old man go. With his bowl eyeglasses and his big eyes. Visibly held back by his age, not getting those notes like he used to. Aging so gracefully, though, and with such a beautiful repertoire and history. Damn it if he didn't influence me more than any other musician out there. A freaking giant and I'm so grateful to be standing on his shoulders. Here's to Dave Van Ronk.

[@thaliamuse51]

Blues singers just get stronger with age. It's not about nailing the notes, it's about feeling the song and making us feel it too! See Johnny Cash covering "Hurt" too ... devastating.

[@TheJohnnyBE]

Heard this song a 1,000 times, but when Dave sings it, you believe every word. Like hearing it for the first time.

[@dansmith-ee9po]

wow

[@kyleraines4811]

That's also like the Cisco houston version I think

[@juancruzmarquez9084]

He's beyond and understand everything.

[@tylernail2146]

Dave’s rendition is truly amazing I can play it on repeat and get chills when he gets about mid song what an amazing artist who is not as well known or listened to as much as I’d like I love everything he does and a lot of songs were revived by Dave to go on to be played by many others later

[@poorianavabi9974]

OH GOD THIS WAS AMAZING

[@truthbtoldude]

loved this guy for more than 50 yrs. still do. hard to find a singer like him, more into the real deal than the dough. you may think it doesn't matter, maybe think he was a fool, but then you don't really know what yr hearing. it's inside the man, who's inside the song, that's inside the world in a way no one can buy. and that's the folk music we came up with all those years ago in washington square (circa 1958 and on.)

[@robertsmart2389]

Yup great stuff, the real deal.

[@jehumartin8380]

I heard Dave play in coffee houses and in the Village many times- he was always himself -his depth and the sincerity of his music hard to match.His style was always the result of artistic decisions that he made. You can practice all you want and take all the music lessons you can find but to have what he had -cannot be bought or taught. In the end the people of New York City agreed naming a street in the Sheridan Square area of the West Village after him.

[@angrychocolaterabbit]

You're so lucky - what I would give to be alive then and to witness all the amazing musicians of his time...

[@tylernail2146]

Congrats and thank you for sharing a friend of mine in his 70s had met Dave a few times and actually was in his house and said he has a small NYC apartment with a long hallways when you enters and it’s walls had many displays of masks and native art what a trail amazing man I would have loved to hear him preform any song live

[@seanoneillsongs]

This song has been in my head since 1963 when I heard it on an album called 'Way Out West'. The singer was Alex Campbell and I wore out the album. His version was really good and this is really something. Thanks for posting.

[@careyjamesmajeski3203]

thanks for the tip.

[@sarahcolombo1547]

Awesome. Remember seeing him live once, broke a string and never paused...a Master

[@gwarejko]

F'ing fantastic.

[@L.C.Sweeney]

Thank you to the cameraman who realised guitarists want to see his fretting hand. No thanks to the editor who cut said shot.

[@bobtaylor170]

Probably the director. TV directors have a history of idiocy when it comes to such matters, which is why as far as anyone knows there does not exist any film record of John Lennon playing his solo on "You Can't Do That."

[@bluesummits]

I don't know since when Dave is categorized as a blues singer but I listened to a pure neat blues song today. God this is amazing...

[@eoghan.friend]

I can't stop listen him, fckin big boss

[@MrNewman46]

Phenomenal talent...severely understood, just as good as dylan

[@PaulCheyne]

what a joy to watch!

[@TrailinSmoke]

Many have done this song but he takes me there

[@sellmeyoursoul6601]

Dave is OG real artists you talk about them in present simple tense even after they passed away

[@ginnygrafton3058]

One of my favorites

[@123must]

Beautiful rendition ! Thanks

[@donmcmahan]

I have a recording of this song the Dave did back in 1959....his voice hasn't improved over the years, because , well nobody's does but his delivery and interpretation of the song has. if he had sung it like this back then it would have been, I think, the definitive all time best St James Infirmary.

[@mavannon6102]

Thank you for posting this clip.

[@Jm01394]

A true folksinger. Enjoyed Dave Van Ronk!!

[@johnhougen1348]

First heard him do this on a Newport Blues album. Mississipi John Hurt preformed that year too, early 1960's. Van Ronk wrote a memoir called "The Mayor of MacDougal Street" The guy was a true character, read the book if you can find it.

[@johnm996]

I have that on vinyl somewhere. it's actually a better version than this. of course that was from '63 and Dave was much younger. also a good intro to Mississippi john hurt, who had 2 or 3 songs on it. thanks for reminding me, i'll have to dig that one out and listen again.

[@13loomisst]

The great man. Thank you.

[@snuzebuster]

Dave Van Ronk! Nice.

[@bobcoleman3400]

Great job

[@Oscar3]

Majestic

[@pentangle4444]

I was at this concert at Barnes at Wolf Trap and have seen Dave Van Ronk perform in concert probably more than any other folk artist. This song may have had its roots back to an Irish folk ballad "The Unfortunate Lad" and is among Van Ronk's finest.

[@seanoneillsongs]

I'm Irish but I think 'The Unfortunate Lad - or Rake' is an English folk ballad. It also seems to have been what evolved into 'Streets of Laredo'

[@skyehuggins4275]

I know it has some Jimmie Rodger's Those Gambler's Blues vibes for sure!

[@tanDlegen]

Thanks for sharing! Love this version.

[@lynettekomidar]

Ahh always the best

[@johnnybx3254]

Awesome ✌🏻

[@karlconnolly3994]

Goodnight Dave x

[@IIRIS0952]

OH DAVE!

[@HeavyThoughts666]

Rest easy

[@alexeynartov2909]

Интересно , смог ли кто-нибудь плохо спеть этот блюз ? Кого ни услышу - шедевр !

[@karlconnolly3994]

... I don’t see any money here. Rip Dave Von Ronk.

[@tippimail1]

I saw him at the Palms Playhouse,in Davis Ca.in the middle '90's-he was sitting at the bar drinking a beer and looked like a homeless bum.When he took to the stage and strummed the first note on his guitar,you could have heard a pin drop.

[@joemo1000]

Wonder if Big D got sober before he died?

[@DanPurdy1]

St. James infirmary was pulled down by Henry VIII. He built a castle there. It is still there. Most of it houses the British foreign service. All diplomates from other countries are credited with the Palace of St. James.

[@redmule3069]

There's only one Dave Van Ronk...

[@hmao4466]

The Triffids brought me here...

[@dwbonny3210]

As a few of you can imagine, getting admitted into Heaven is about 1,000 times more challenging than getting admitted into all the most prestigious universities put together, yet for some strange reason, this curious Soul somehow managed to squeak in. Who would have thought..? 🤔

[@emiltrees]

I saw Dave at the "Inn of the Beginning" in Cotati, California 1968 and he was terrible and it took me several years to get over it. He was drinking pitchers of beer like most people drink glasses of beer and it became pathetic. My first song I ever mastered was the "Cocaine Blues". So to see Dave too drunk to even play it made me think it was all just an illusion. Through all the crap I grew into a damn good guitarist and I have that generation to thank, I guess.

[@surferninjakowabunga]

Sooooooooo Dave inspired you to do something? Silver lining

[@christianlacheze3323]

The mayor of Greenwich Village

[@gillygil8747]

Where's Phil Ochs?

[@davidrosas2127]

that was legit

[@lightbox617]

Is there any NY musician/song writer that this guy did not teach?

[@CulturalWorldViews]

Culturalview shared and posted, thank you

[@Drum4evr22]

his face when he's not singing

[@apartfiguur1]

devil makes three

[@THELIGHT2854]

Llewyn davis

[@vicavakian8509]

This singer looks like Rolf Harris

[@bonmot7850]

You look like Al Pacino

[@jeffreyd508]

02:47 my god, this voice is just horrendous

[@arktemperedoreo9482]

It’s perfect