In memory of my Grandparents for all of the wonderful childhood memories in rural Louisiana; and to my Parents for the love of music they shared with me.

To me, Louisiana is like a big gumbo pot; add a little bit of dis and dat, something from different cultures to give the gumbo some texture, mix them all together in a big iron pot and stir in some spices to give it that rich Louisiana flavor. No matter if you like to two- step, boogie or shuffle, everyone is invited to eat from the same pot. We Louisianians like good food, good music, good friends and good fun; so dig in, listen up, grab an instrument, dance a little and by all means pass a good time. – JD

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Bonjour mes amis, bonjour
Bonjour mes amis, bonjour
Bonjour mes amis, bonjour mes amis, bonjour mes amis,
bonjour
Bonjour, mes amis

Comment ca va, mes amis (How are you?)
Ca va bien, mes amis (I’m fine)
Allons danser, mes amis (Let’s dance)
Allons chanter, mes amis (Let’s sing)
Au revior, mes amis, adieu (Goodbye, farewell)

There’s a little game that you should know
When it’s time to go, but you don’t want to go
Put down your head and don’t make a peep
And everyone will think that you’re asleep

Playin’ ‘possum, playin’ ‘possum
Playin’ ‘possum, playin’ ‘possum
It’s the oldest trick and it’s done with ease
Just freeze

The Louisiana ‘possum always wears a grin
Because he likes to play and he likes to win
So when you see him just hanging around
Pretend you’re asleep and don’t make a sound

Today is Monday, today is Monday
Monday red beans
All you lucky children come and eat it up
Come and eat it up

Tuesday poboys, Wednesday gumbo, Thursday jambalaya
Friday catfish, Saturday crawfish, Sunday beignets

Strolling by the bayou, only me beside you
You can if you try too, go strolling by the bayou
Strolling by the bayou

Stroll front, stroll back, stroll left, stroll right
Make a turn, keep it tight
Stroll, stroll, strolling along
Stroll, stroll, strolling along

Muddy Mississippi, mighty Mississippi
The mud is mighty slippi’, I’m gonna yell yippi’
Muddy Mississippi

Strolling in the Quarter, doin’ what I oughta’
I haven’t got a quarter, so I stroll in the Quarter
Strolling in the Quarter

ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Mosquitoes, mosquitoes, nothing but mosquitoes
(clapping)
ZZZZZZZZZZZ
Mosquitoes, mosquitoes, nothing but mosquitoes
(clapping)
Mosquitoes, mosquitoes, nothing but mosquitoes
ZZZZZZZZZZZ
(clap once)

If you want a kitchen band get out your pots and pans
And bop, bop, bop (repeat)
If you want a kitchen believe me you can
Just bop, bop, bop

If you want to play a tune get out a wooden spoon
And bop, bop, bop (repeat)
If you want to play a tune, you’ll do it real soon
Just bop, bop, bop

There’s a crazy thing that’s going around
Kitchen band is coming to town
Kitchen band is coming to town
And then twist, turn, jump and jive
Hear that music come alive
And then twist, turn, jump and jive
Come on everybody and play

If you’re young or old get out a plastic bowl
And bop, bop, bop (repeat)
If you’re young or old do what you’ve been told
And bop, bop, bop

Like ya Mama been tol’ you with any good stew
When you wanna make a gumbo start with a roux
When you wanna make a gumbo start with a roux

Add a white onion and chop it up good
Two stalks of celery like ya Mama tol’ you should
Three bell peppers nice and green
Four Creole tomatoes that’s not too lean
Five Cajun spices to give it some bite
Six okra chopped to fix you up right
Seven blue crabs with nice big claws
Eight shucked oysters, save the pearls for Mardi Gras
Nine jumbo shrimp four long inch
Ten crawfish tails that’s easy to pinch
Mix ‘em all together in a seafood stock
Put your tasting spoons under key and lock
After ‘bout an hour when it smells so nice
Pour it in a bowl over white steamed rice
After you’ve cleaned your plate and shout ooohhh weee!
Thank all the Grandmas that came before me

Miss Mary Mack, Mack, Mack, all dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons all down her back, back, back
She asked her mother, mother, mother for fifty cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants jump over the fence, fence, fence
They jumped so high, high, high they touched the sky, sky, sky
And they never came back, back, back until the Fourth of July, ly, ly

Miss Mary Sue, blue, shoe; Miss Mary Ted, red, bed
Miss Mary Means, greens, jeans; Miss Mary Mellow, yellow, cello;
Miss Mary Night, white, kite.

See Michi Banjo, see Michi Banjo strutting like a millionaire
See Michi Banjo, see Michi Banjo strutting like a millionaire

Clap your hands up high Michi Banjo
Clap your hands down low Michi Banjo
Tap your toe in front Michi Banjo
Tap your toe in back Michi Banjo
Shuffle to the left Michi Banjo
Shuffle to the right Michi Banjo
Circle to the left Michi Banjo
Circle to the right Michi Banjo

There’s a little armadillo with leathery skin
Can’t see where he’s going or where he’s been
Armadillo, armadillo

He jumps straight up when the alligator bites
He sleeps in the days and burrows at nights
Armadillo, armadillo

You’re a cute little thing you mean no harm
You’re a quiet bug eater with Southern charm
Armadillo, armadillo

He can run under water in the ol’ bayou
He likes to eat bugs, but he never bugs you
Armadillo, armadillo

He never looks for trouble, you know he’s right
He’ll roll in a ball when there comes a fight
Armadillo, armadillo

Well my Mama called to me she said come here child
You know I’ve been telling you for quite awhile
I don’t want to have to tell you ‘cause you know what I think
Those dirty clothes and socks of yours are starting to stink

I’ve got the messy room blues, oo aah
I’ve got the messy room blues, oo aah
So tell my friends about it ‘cause I’ve got the blues
Tell my friends about it ‘cause I’ve got the blues

Well if I don’t clean my room I can’t go outside
So I start looking around for places to hide
I throw the clothes in the closet and the junk under the rug
When Mama sees my room she’s gonna give me a hug

Well I call to my Mama to look at my room
She took one look and then she gave me a broom
She said, “Don’t play with me ‘cause I’ve been there myself,
I used to hide my dirty socks behind the bookshelf.”

You get a line and I’ll get a pole honey, honey
You get a line and I’ll get a pole babe, babe

You get a line and I’ll get a pole
And we’ll go down to the crawfish hole
Honey, honey, baby mine

I sell crawfish three for a dime...
And that’s a bargain any time

Let’s go down to the crawfish hole...
We’ll eat so much that none will spoil

Far off in the swamp there came a howl
Something like a holler, something like a growl
Ducking under cobwebs, stepping over logs
There was no other sound, not even the frogs

Loup Garou, Loup Garou, the werewolf Loup Garou
Loup Garou, Loup Garou, the werewolf Loup Garou

Surrounded by darkness the werewolf stood
Was he gonna get her like her brother said he would
His eyes were red and beady and glowed like a hawk
His hair was long and matted like moss in the dark

Feliciana, I’ve been watching you
Your temper is hotter than alligator stew
I’ll tell you a secret I’m a lot like you
I’ll help you with your temper; I’ll show you what to do

A shadow fell on the water like a dancing fork and spoon
Arm and arm together their howling shook the moon
Their howling shook the moon.