[Intro]
Ooh Jambalaya
Ooh Jambalaya

[Verse 1]
It was muggy July around supper time
When I pulled into New Orleans
I got dropped off at South Rampart Street
I was hungry for a plate of greens

[Verse 2]
I made my way down the banquette
Where I could see an open door
And overhead a sign made of painted pine read
The Dixie Drug Store

[Verse 3]
Peppers and roots were hanging
From the rafters above
There were oils and sprays all on display
For money luck and for love

[Verse 4]
I reached down to pick one up
When a dark hand grabbed my arm
And before I could see just who it was
She said you don't want that charm
[Hook]
Ooh Jambalaya

[Verse 5]
The last man to walk that thing out of here
Just up and disappeared
Found his wallet and his wingtip shoes
Near a tombstone down in Algiers

[Verse 6]
What you need my travelling friend
Is a place to wash your jeans
And I wouldn't be the least surprised
If you were hungry for a plate of greens

[Verse 7]
She beckoned me on up the stairs
For she'd done made up her mind
Said take off your hat and kick off your boots
And leave your pride behind

[Hook]
Ooh Jambalaya

[Verse 8]
She took me down to a secret place
In the bayou of her blankets
She offered to share her bourbon
I thanked her
Then I drank it
[Verse 9]
Through a small crack in the ceiling
Burst the Louisiana moon
It shone down on our bodies
And we began to croon

[Verse 10]
Like a couple of coyotes
We were howling thru the night
And I swear they were a beatin' those
Conga drums outside

[Hook]
Ooh Jambalaya

[Verse 11]
We laughed until the mornin'
By then my pants had dried
I picked up my hat and pulled on my boots
And I gathered up my pride

[Verse 12]
I figured she had done stepped out
I didn't see her anywhere
And I set out to find her
I headed on downstairs
[Verse 13]
Got down to the bottom
I couldn't believe my eyes
Gone were all the bottles
And the remedy supplies

[Hook]
Ooh Jambalaya

[Verse 14]
I shouted out for Marie
I darted out the door
An old man on the wooden porch said
What you in there for

[Verse 15]
Son you got no business
The hoodoo store's been closed
Long as I remember
A century I suppose

[Verse 16]
But Mister I just spent the night
With a young girl named Laveau
He said the Widow Paris
Done had a little laugh on you

[Verse 17]
I said you mean to tell me
That was the voodooin'
He nodded yes none other
The Queen of New Orleans

[Outro]
Ooh Jambalaya
Ooh Jambalaya
Ooh Jambalaya
Ooh Jambalaya
Ooh Jambalaya
Ooh Jambalaya