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Louisiana Rain Lyrics

Well, it was out in California by the San Diego Sea,
That was when I was taken in, and it left its mark on me.
Yeah, she nearly drove me crazy with all those china toys,
And I know she really didn't mean a thing to those sailor boys.

Louisiana rain is falling at my feet.
Baby, I'm noticing a change as I move down the street.
Louisiana rain is soaking through my shoes.
I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge.

South Carolina put out its arms for me
Right up until everything went black
Somewhere on lonely street.
And I still can't quite remember,
Who helped me to my feet.
Thank God for a long-neck bottle,
The angels remedy.

Louisiana rain is falling just like tears,
Running down my face, washing out the years.
Louisiana rain is soaking through my shoes.
I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge.

Well, I never will get over this English refugee
Singing to the juke-box in some all-nite beanery.
Yeah, he was eating pills like candy
And chasing them with tea.
You should have seen him lick his lips at old black Molly B.

Louisiana rain is falling at my feet.
Baby, I'm noticing a change as I move down the street.
Louisiana rain is soaking through my shoes.
I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge.

Louisiana rain is falling just like tears,
Running down my face, washing out the years.
Louisiana rain is soaking through my shoes.
I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge.
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Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

...and in fact you have a line in verse 2 that's wrong anyway - it's

"Thank god for a long-neck bottle, the angels' remedy."

Lyric Correction

@treefrogdemon Agreed. Also, I swear he says "lick his lips at old black Marley B" at the end of the 3rd verse... as in playing a Bob Marley song on the jukebox.

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

of course petty is going to sing about louisiana cuz he's awsome!

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

If I were a female pornstar, I'd use Louisiana Rain as my stage name.

(Sorry if I ruined the song for anyone.)

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

Nick the Bastard: not at all. Now I'll just think of Petty in drag when I hear this song lol. Oh wait...i dont like that. I guess you did ruin it for me. YOU BASTARD!

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

what is this song about?

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

It's supposed to be about one of the TP&TH roadies, "the English refugee", and his adventures on the road. But whether the first two verses are about him as well I'm not sure.

There's an alternative lyric to verse 2:

South Carolina put out its arms for me Right up till everything went black Somewhere on Lonely Street. And it was just that evil poison That I put up my nose Thank god for a long-neck bottle The angels' antidote

Song was on Torpedoes, but it's much older than that - from Mudcrutch days.

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

I swear he says "lick his lips at old black Marley B" at the end of the 3rd verse... as in playing a Bob Marley song on the jukebox.

My Interpretation

@princemarzmusic You should have seen him lick his lips at ole black Molly beads, that is what I hear. Black mollies were a street drug(speeders) in the 60's, 70's and 80's(I think they were capsules with beads in them) With the earlier reference to him eating pills like candy and chasing them with tea. I guess that's why I hear what I hear. However, The line in the South Carolina verse it "Thank God for the LOVE That Followed, an angels remedy. I do not think TP was thanking God for long neck bottles, I could be wrong about any or all of...

Cover art for Louisiana Rain lyrics by Tom Petty

For all those who don’t know, there are two studio versions of this song - the first was a Tom Petty solo cut from the pre-Heartbreakers days (on Playback) which has slightly different lyrics from the DTT version (which the live cut on Live Anthology meshes together).

I assume most people see the DTT lyrics when they’re searching, so out of laziness, I’ll only cite the solo lyrics, since they’re the ones that seem to throw people off.

“Well it was out in California By the San Diego Sea That was when I was taken in By an aging boardwalk queen.

And she nearly drove me crazy With all those China toys And I know she really didn’t mean a thing To those sailor boys

Louisiana Rain is falling at my feet I’m noticing a change as I move down the street Louisiana Rain is soaking through my shoes I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge

South Carolina Stuck out its arms for me Right up until everything went black Somewhere on Baker Street

And it was just some mean old poison
That I took up my nose Thank god for a long neck(ed) bottle The angel’s antidote

Louisiana Rain is falling just like tears Running down my face, washing out the tears Louisiana rain is soaking down my shoes I may never be the same When I reach Baton Rouge.

Well I never will get over This English refugee Signing to the jukebox in some all night beanery Yeah he was eating pills like candy And chasing them with tea You should have seen him lick his lips At old black Molly B

Louisiana Rain is falling at my feet I’m noticing a change as I move down the street Louisiana Rain is soaking through my shoes I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge

Louisiana Rain is falling just like tears Running down my face, washing out the tears Louisiana rain is soaking down my shoes I may never be the same when I reach Baton Rouge No I may never be same when I reach Baton Rouge.”

 
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