Fire on the Bayou
The Meters Lyrics
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Fire on the bayou
Fire on the bayou
Fire on the bayou
Down in New Orleans, in Lucky's din
He wouldn't deal y'all for a 5th of gin
One dude wanted a bottle of wine
Hit that dude yes he did up for a dollar and a dime
Fire on the bayou
Fire on the bayou
Take a little toke on your smoke
Buy yourself a bottle of wine
Cool, cool wine going down your throat
Don't try and tell me don't make you feel fine
Fire on the bayou
Fire on the bayou
I got a nickel now, you got a dime
Let's get together and have a good time
Goin' to buy a fifth, going to buy a joint
when you gettin' down now, you doin' things right"
"I got swamp water runnin' through my veins
The Mississippi River can't be tamed
I pole my pirogue in the middle of the night
I'm an uptown ruler, I can do it right"
The Meters’ classic “Fire on the Bayou” is an electrifying tale of life in the city of New Orleans. The song’s pulsating rhythms and catchy chorus are a celebration of the city’s lively atmosphere and rich culture. The opening verse transports the listener to Lucky’s Din, a local spot where one man is unwilling to part with his gin. When another patron requests a bottle of wine, the first man attacks him. The altercation sets the stage for the central theme of the song: the power of music and the pleasure of indulgence.
The chorus of “Fire on the Bayou” captures the spirit of the city with its call-and-response structure and repeated refrain of “Fire on the bayou.” It’s as if the song is urging the listener to join in the festivities and let loose. The lyrics encourage indulgence in both alcohol and smoking, summing up the party spirit of New Orleans. The song further explores the culture of the city with its reference to the Mississippi River and the local term “uptown ruler.”
Overall, “Fire on the Bayou” is an ode to the free-spirited nature of New Orleans, with its lively music scene and its embrace of indulgence. It’s a song that captures the feeling of letting loose and having a good time, highlighting the essence of the city.
Line by Line Meaning
Fire on the bayou
There is excitement and energy in the air
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
Down in New Orleans, in Lucky's din
In a diner named Lucky's in New Orleans
He wouldn't deal y'all for a 5th of gin
The owner of the diner wouldn't sell alcohol illegally
One dude wanted a bottle of wine
A customer wanted to buy wine
Hit that dude yes he did up for a dollar and a dime
Another customer sold the first customer wine for more than its worth
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
Take a little toke on your smoke
Take a puff of your cigarette or marijuana
Buy yourself a bottle of wine
Purchase a bottle of wine
Cool, cool wine going down your throat
The wine feels refreshing as it is swallowed
Don't try and tell me don't make you feel fine
Don't deny that wine feels good to drink
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
Fire on the bayou
The excitement and energy is still present
I got a nickel now, you got a dime
I have a little money, you have more
Let's get together and have a good time
Come hang out with me and have fun
Goin' to buy a fifth, going to buy a joint
Let's purchase a bottle and some drugs
when you gettin' down now, you doin' things right
If you're partying and having fun, you're doing things correctly
I got swamp water runnin' through my veins
I am heavily connected to the marshy environment of Louisiana
The Mississippi River can't be tamed
The powerful river cannot be controlled
I pole my pirogue in the middle of the night
I use a small, flat-bottomed boat to navigate at night
I'm an uptown ruler, I can do it right
I am a king in my part of town and I know how to have fun and do things properly
Contributed by Levi O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
gloGlo Mana
so funky, so deep, so groovin' ... awesome guys! thanks for posting!
stcost27
Damn, this song is on fire.
What an energy, what a nice sound!
You gotta love the Meters
bo
+stcost27 agree
Curtis Newman
This band rocks, just discovered them.
alpha omega
real funk !!! , ouvindo ainda em 2019! muito bom !!!!
marikology
this is one of those songs you know how it goes and can hum the melody, but you don' t know any of the words so it haunts you till you finally figure it out.
504Diva
That intro better than most whole songs out today.
RetroJenny
Great funky stuff!
69pinkmeat
I would love to see this music make a come back and replace rap this stuff makes your soul feel so good your feet cant stay still !
Graham Wiles
It is a travesty these guys are not in the goddamn hof. Legends with endless influence.