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.
Copyright © Tom Mcmurray | Year Posted 2011
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