This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
At first Mom and Poppa called the little girl a lady
They raised her on the banks of a river bed
A house boat tied to a big tall tree
A home for my poppa and my momma and me
The clock strikes three Poppa jumps to his fee
Already Moma's cookin' Poppa somethin' to eat
At half past Poppa he's a ready to go, he jumps in
His pirogue headed down the bayou
He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
Got to catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a 'Lousiana man,gotta make
A livin' he's a 'Lousiana man
Muskrat hides hangin' by the dozen, even got a little bitty
Muskrat cousin
Got 'em out dryin' in the hot hot sun, tomorrow Poppa's
Gone turn em into money
They call Moma Rita and my Daddy Jack,my little baby
Brother on the floor that's Mac,Rhett and Lynn are the
Family twins,big brother Eddie's on the bayou fishin'
On the river floats Poppa's great big boat
That's how me and Poppa get in to town
It takes every bit of a night and day to even reach
A place where the people stay
Oh I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around
That's the day my Poppa takes the furs to town
Poppa done promised me that I could go
He'd even let me see a cowboy show
I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time then
I told my Poppa "gotta go again" but Poppa says"Hon
We got lines to run,we'll have to come again,cause theres
Work to be done"
He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
Got a catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a' Lousiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a' Lousiana man-an
Poppa done promised me that I could go
He'd even let me see the cowboy show
I saw the cowboys and indians for the first time then
I told my Poppa "Gotta go again" but Poppa said "Hon,
We got lines to run,we'll have to come again cause theres
Work to be done
He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
Got to catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a 'Lousiana man,gotta make
A livin' he's a 'Lousiana man
They raised her on the banks of a river bed
A house boat tied to a big tall tree
A home for my poppa and my momma and me
The clock strikes three Poppa jumps to his fee
Already Moma's cookin' Poppa somethin' to eat
At half past Poppa he's a ready to go, he jumps in
His pirogue headed down the bayou
He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
Got to catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a 'Lousiana man,gotta make
A livin' he's a 'Lousiana man
Muskrat hides hangin' by the dozen, even got a little bitty
Muskrat cousin
Got 'em out dryin' in the hot hot sun, tomorrow Poppa's
Gone turn em into money
They call Moma Rita and my Daddy Jack,my little baby
Brother on the floor that's Mac,Rhett and Lynn are the
Family twins,big brother Eddie's on the bayou fishin'
On the river floats Poppa's great big boat
That's how me and Poppa get in to town
It takes every bit of a night and day to even reach
A place where the people stay
Oh I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around
That's the day my Poppa takes the furs to town
Poppa done promised me that I could go
He'd even let me see a cowboy show
I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time then
I told my Poppa "gotta go again" but Poppa says"Hon
We got lines to run,we'll have to come again,cause theres
Work to be done"
He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
Got a catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a' Lousiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a' Lousiana man-an
Poppa done promised me that I could go
He'd even let me see the cowboy show
I saw the cowboys and indians for the first time then
I told my Poppa "Gotta go again" but Poppa said "Hon,
We got lines to run,we'll have to come again cause theres
Work to be done
He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
Got to catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a 'Lousiana man,gotta make
A livin' he's a 'Lousiana man
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Louisiana Man Lyrics as written by Doug Kershaw
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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