It was muggy July around supper time
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When I pulled into New Orleans
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I got dropped off at South Rampart Street
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I was hungry for a plate of greens
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I made my way down the banquette
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Where I could see an open door
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And overhead a sign made of painted pine read
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The Dixie Drug Store
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Peppers and roots were hanging
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From the rafters above
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There were oils and sprays all on display
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For money luck and for love
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I reached down to pick one up
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When a dark hand grabbed my arm
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And before I could see just who it was
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She said you don't want that charm
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The last man to walk that thing out of here
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Just up and disappeared
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Found his wallet and his wingtip shoes
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Near a tombstone down in Algiers
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What you need my travelling friend
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Is a place to wash your jeans
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And I wouldn't be the least surprised
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If you were hungry for a plate of greens
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She beckoned me on up the stairs
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For she'd done made up her mind
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Said take off your hat and kick off your boots
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And leave your pride behind
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She was turnin' tricks and nothing clicked
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And the room was black as pitch
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She had me backed up against the wall
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I was fumbling for the switch
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I could hear her crack the shutters
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As I felt a little draft
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When she gave me a shove into the tub
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And said it's time to take your bath
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I lay there in my stockinged feet
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I was soaked from head to toe
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At the same time down on Rampart Street
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I heard the trumpet blow
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Sparks started poppin' from an old tin cup
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Sitting on the window sill
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The whole place smelled like matches
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And onions on the grill
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I was catchin' cold and I told her so
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As I let out a little cough
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She told me since my pants were clean
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Why don't I just dry off
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I found myself a little tea-towel
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Wrapped it around my waist
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I was standin' there half naked
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When I noticed we were face to face
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And now it seemed the picture's
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Gettin' pretty strange
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Stripped bare in her chamber and
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I hadn't even asked her name
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I started to inquire
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She knocked me upside the head
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My noggin felt on fire
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As she pulled me into bed
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You needn't ask no questions
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Of the things that don't concern you
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If you aren't afraid of the fire son
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Fire it won't burn you
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She took me down to a secret place
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In the bayou of her blankets
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She offered to share her bourbon
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I thanked her then I drank it
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Thru a small crack in the ceiling
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Burst the Louisiana moon
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It shone down on our bodies
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And we began to croon
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Like a couple of coyotes
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We were howling thru the night
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And I swear they were a beatin' those
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Congo drums outside
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I told her she was crazy
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And she replied it's true
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And she finally introduced herself
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As the famous Marie Laveau
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I said now come on darlin'
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She died a century ago
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Don't believe the paper she said
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It simply isn't so
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I shot back that's impossible
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There ain't a ghost of a chance
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But I wouldn't turn a pretty ghost down
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If she asked me up to dance
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We laughed until the mornin'
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By then my pants had dried
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I picked up my hat and pulled on my boots
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And I gathered up my pride
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I figured she had done stepped out
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I didn't see her anywhere
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And I set out to find her
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I headed on downstairs
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Got down to the bottom
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I couldn't believe my eyes
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Gone were all the bottles
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And the remedy supplies
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I shouted out for Marie
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I darted out the door
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An old man on the wooden porch said
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What you in there for
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Son you got no business
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The hoodoo store's been closed
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Long as I remember
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A century I suppose
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But Mister I just spent the night
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With a young gal named Laveau
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He said the Widow Paris
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Done had a little laugh on you
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I said you mean to tell me
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That was the voodooin'
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He nodded yes none other
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The Queen of New Orleans
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DIXIE DRUG STORE (JUJU MIX)
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Grant Lee Buffalo |