Dreams of Zydeco

I've been up a bit and down a bit and hung around in river towns, when glory days and gamblin' boats were beauty to behold; long and sleek with shapely curves and ripe just like a lady in the bloomin' blush of prime. Standin' high n' mighty.......she was glidin' through the water, lookin' every bit a woman, feelin' fancy-free and proud. A sacred shroud a-movin' on the Mississippi highway, shinning like a diamond, in the moonlight headin' south. Been livin' on the river most my life. I've seen bout' everything the river lets you see. Winona, Minnesota, south to Memphis, Tennessee. Down to Shrievport, Lousianna, where shrimpers float their bayou boats and freighters sail the sea. Nawlin's cajun cookin be my comfort company, along with Creole women givin' spice of life to me. The dancin' bands play Zydeco and sing about the legendary swamp-witch history. The river women love me and I tell you this I know 'cause up and down the river, river women tell me so. Spent my gambin' days in Natchez, Mississippi, don't ya see, where fine up-standin' ladies mixed with riff-raff just like me. Had a time or two of trouble, but young men with a temper can test trouble easily. I spent some time from livin' doin' labor for the man, but when my time was over and the man had cut me loose, I left my youth behind me and my river life began. Born in Chauvin, Lousianna, back in nineteen forty-three, a bayou boy who found his joy, dreamin' dreams of river queens, and hopin' glory days were on their way so he could walk the river block and smell the rare and richer air of up-north Baton Rouge. Then gaze and praise her majesty; the lady, Mississippi, flowin' south into the sea. With cajun music ragin' in my bones of 16 years; and fantasies of youthful truth now burnin' in my soul, I left my home in Chauvin, on my way to Baton Rouge, to search the Mississippi for my dreams of Zydeco.