The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
At birth Mom and Papa called their little boy Ned
They raised him on the banks of the river bed
A houseboat tied to a big tall tree
A home for my Papa and my Mama and me
The clock strikes three, Papa jumps to his feet
Already mama's cookin' Papa something to eat
At half past, Papa, he's ready to go
He jumps in his piro headed down the bayou
He's got fishin' lines strung across the Louisiana river
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
He set the traps in the swamp catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
A muskrat hides a hangin' by the dozen
Even got a lady make a muskrat's cousin
Got 'em out dryin' in the hot hot sun
Tomorrow Papa's gonna turn 'em into mon
They call my Mama Rita and my Daddy's Jack
A little baby brother on the floor, that's Mac
Big brother Ed's on the bayou fishin'
Fram and Malene are the family twins
On the river float Papa's great big boat
That's for my Papa goes into town
He takes every bit of the night and day
To even reach the place where the people stay
I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around
That's the day my Papa takes his fire to town
Papa promised me that I could go even let me see a cowboy show
I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time
Then I told my Papa gotta go again
Papa said hon' we got the lines to run
We'll come back tomorrow 'cause the work to be done
He's got fishin' lines strung across the Louisiana river
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
He set the traps in the swamp catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Hey
They raised him on the banks of the river bed
A houseboat tied to a big tall tree
A home for my Papa and my Mama and me
The clock strikes three, Papa jumps to his feet
Already mama's cookin' Papa something to eat
At half past, Papa, he's ready to go
He jumps in his piro headed down the bayou
He's got fishin' lines strung across the Louisiana river
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
He set the traps in the swamp catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
A muskrat hides a hangin' by the dozen
Even got a lady make a muskrat's cousin
Got 'em out dryin' in the hot hot sun
Tomorrow Papa's gonna turn 'em into mon
They call my Mama Rita and my Daddy's Jack
A little baby brother on the floor, that's Mac
Big brother Ed's on the bayou fishin'
Fram and Malene are the family twins
On the river float Papa's great big boat
That's for my Papa goes into town
He takes every bit of the night and day
To even reach the place where the people stay
I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around
That's the day my Papa takes his fire to town
Papa promised me that I could go even let me see a cowboy show
I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time
Then I told my Papa gotta go again
Papa said hon' we got the lines to run
We'll come back tomorrow 'cause the work to be done
He's got fishin' lines strung across the Louisiana river
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
He set the traps in the swamp catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man
Hey
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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