My understanding is that Mac Rebennack , aka Dr John, wrote the song regarding an incident at his home in the French Quarter. As the story goes his mistress , later to become his second wife , Sally was at his house while his wife, Christina ,was away. His wife came home unexpectedly, and Mac had to sneak Sally down the alley between his house, trying to keep from being caught.
When Mac wrote the song, he was still married to Christina, and therefore couldn’t perform the song himself.
My understanding is that Mac Rebennack , aka Dr John, wrote the song regarding an incident at his home in the French Quarter. As the story goes his mistress , later to become his second wife , Sally was at his house while his wife, Christina ,was away. His wife came home unexpectedly, and Mac had to sneak Sally down the alley between his house, trying to keep from being caught. When Mac wrote the song, he was still married to Christina, and therefore couldn’t perform the song himself.