On the water down in New Orleans
My baby's the pearl of the quarter
She's a charmer like you never seen
Singing "voulez-voulez-voulez-vous"

Where the sailor spend his hard-earned pay
Red beans and rice for a quarter
You can see her almost any day
Singing "voulez-voulez-voulez-vous"

And if you hear from my Louise
Won't you tell her I say hello?
Please make it clear
When her day is done
She got a place to go

I walked alone down the miracle mile
I met my baby by the shrine of the martyr
She stole my heart with her Cajun smile
Singing "voulez-voulez-voulez-vous"

She loved the million dollar words I'd say
She loved the candy and the flowers that I bought her
She said she loved me and was on her way
Singing "voulez-voulez-voulez-vous

And if you hear from my Louise
Won't you tell her I love her so?
Please make it clear
When her day is done
She got a place to go

And if you hear from my Louise
Won't you tell her I love her so?
Please make it clear
When her day is done
She got a place to go


Lyrics submitted by GaslitAbbie

Pearl of the Quarter Lyrics as written by Donald Jay Fagen Walter Carl Becker

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network

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Pearl of the Quarter song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    One of the few songs about a hooker that features pedal steel.

    thermo4on June 09, 2008   Link

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