with a pocket of poesy and a heart full of song I reeled and I sputtered, I stumbled along the papers and the bottles and the mystified throng of a holy and ripped dixie night
sirens call out without and within and I holler and shout, “I don't know where to begin!” there is nothing to do with it all that's not perfectly right
tell me, kitten, who's little who are you you are so young and pretty and I'm so tried and true I am rough and I'm ragged, I'm black and I'm blue I've got knots all over my head
but I would open my arms, I would open my heart and I'd lead you home if I knew where to start it's back that way, it's back that way! I heard the man said
New Orleans night! New Orleans night! New Orleans night! New Orleans night!
tell me, Mr., what's a poor boy to do? you can't drink the water, it might poison you they're asleep at the wheel and all these troubles get through at least that is what I have read
so I'm lighting candles to St. Expedite, St. Roch and St Jude, but something still isn't right so I stand in the backyard and I drink from the night instead
if I was the fire chief I would let that place burn they've done it before and they'll never learn lord only knows the kind of shit that they're smoking in bed
there's a pain in my liver and I can't still my hands you know, before I came to this place I had other plans now I might stay here I might stay ‘til I’m dead!
New Orleans night! New Orleans night! New Orleans night! New Orleans night!
and all of the hours are lost in these showers and torrents of rain until only wet sidewalk and scripture remain
there's ice in my drink and a storm out at sea les bon temps roulez, laissez-faire, mon ami there are cats in my ceiling and chickens gone wild in my yard
and the feral children play their pots and pans I've no right here to make any demands but my eyes are wide open and my heart is free and unbarred
New Orleans night! New Orleans night! New Orleans night! New Orleans night!