Marie Lavaux
Bobby Bare Lyrics
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Marie Laveau (1974)
The most famous of the voodoo queens that ever existed
Is Marie Laveau, down in Louisiana
There's a lot of weird ungodly tales about Marie,
She's supposed to have a lot of magic potions, spells and curses...
Down in Louisiana, where the black trees grow
Lives a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau
Got a black cat's tooth and a Mojo bone
And anyone who wouldn't leave her alone
She'd go another man done gone
She lives in a swamp in a hollow log
With a one-eyed snake and a three-legged dog
She's got a bent, bony body and stringy hair
If she ever seen y'all messing round there
She'd go another man done gone
And then one night when the moon was black
Into the swamp come handsome Jack
A no good man like you all know
He was looking around for Marie Laveau
He said Marie Laveau, you handsome witch
Give me a little a little charm that'll make me rich
Give me a million dollars and I tell you what I'll do
This very night, I'm gonna marry you
Then It'll be another man done gone
So Marie done some magic, and she shook a little sand
Made a million dollars and she put it in his hand
Then she giggled and she wiggled, and she said Hey, Hey
I'm getting ready for my wedding day
But old handsome Jack he said goodbye Marie
You're too damned ugly for a rich man like me
Then Marie started mumbling her fangs started gnashing
Her body started trembling and her eyes started flashing
And she went another man done gone.
So if you ever get down where the black trees grow
And meet a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau
If she ever asks you to make her your wife
Man, you better stay with her for the rest of your life
Or it'll be another man done gone
Bobby Bare's "Marie Laveau" tells the story of the famous voodoo queen, Marie Laveau, who is said to have lived in Louisiana. The song speaks of Marie Laveau's legendary powers, which included magic potions, spells and curses. The song mentions that anyone who dared to cross her path would be the next one to go missing. The verses paint pictures of eerie swamps filled with one-eyed snakes and three-legged dogs, and a voodoo queen with a bent, bony body and stringy hair.
The story takes a turn when a no-good man named Jack approaches Marie Laveau with a request for a million dollars in exchange for marriage. Marie Laveau uses her magical powers to grant his wish, but when Jack sees her face, he decides to leave her. Marie Laveau curses him, and he becomes the next man done gone. The song warns the listener to stay with Marie Laveau if she ever asks for marriage, or it'll be another man done gone.
Line by Line Meaning
The most famous of the voodoo queens that ever existed
Marie Laveau is the most famous voodoo queen to have ever existed.
Is Marie Laveau, down in Louisiana
Marie Laveau is located in Louisiana.
There's a lot of weird ungodly tales about Marie,
Marie Laveau is surrounded by weird, ungodly tales.
She's supposed to have a lot of magic potions, spells and curses...
Marie Laveau is known for her possession of magic potions, spells and curses.
Down in Louisiana, where the black trees grow
Marie Laveau is located in Louisiana where there are black trees.
Lives a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau
Marie Laveau is a voodoo lady who lives there.
Got a black cat's tooth and a Mojo bone
Marie Laveau owns a black cat's tooth and a mojo bone.
And anyone who wouldn't leave her alone
Anyone who disturbs Marie Laveau's peace is at risk.
She'd go another man done gone
Marie Laveau can bring about harm to people who disturb her peace.
She lives in a swamp in a hollow log
Marie Laveau's home is in a swamp and in a hollow log.
With a one-eyed snake and a three-legged dog
Marie Laveau lives with a one-eyed snake and a three-legged dog.
She's got a bent, bony body and stringy hair
Marie Laveau's physical features include a bent and bony body, together with stringy hair.
If she ever seen y'all messing round there
Anyone who disturbs Marie Laveau's peace is at risk.
And then one night when the moon was black
One fateful night when the moon was black.
Into the swamp come handsome Jack
Handsome Jack comes to the swamp.
A no good man like you all know
Handsome Jack is a well-known bad guy.
He was looking around for Marie Laveau
Handsome Jack is searching for Marie Laveau.
He said Marie Laveau, you handsome witch
Handsome Jack addresses Marie Laveau as a handsome witch.
Give me a little a little charm that'll make me rich
Handsome Jack asks for a charm that will make him rich.
Give me a million dollars and I tell you what I'll do
In exchange for a million dollars, Handsome Jack promises to marry Marie Laveau.
This very night, I'm gonna marry you
Handsome Jack intends to marry Marie Laveau that very night.
Then It'll be another man done gone
Handsome Jack is at risk of harm if he does not follow through with the promise he made to Marie Laveau.
So Marie done some magic, and she shook a little sand
Marie casts a spell by shaking some sand.
Made a million dollars and she put it in his hand
Marie Laveau conjures a million dollars and gives it to Handsome Jack.
Then she giggled and she wiggled, and she said Hey, Hey
Marie Laveau expresses her amusement.
I'm getting ready for my wedding day
Marie Laveau prepares for her wedding day with Handsome Jack.
But old handsome Jack he said goodbye Marie
Handsome Jack breaks his promise and says goodbye to Marie Laveau.
You're too damned ugly for a rich man like me
Handsome Jack describes Marie Laveau as too ugly to marry.
Then Marie started mumbling her fangs started gnashing
Marie Laveau becomes angry and begins to mumble and gnash her fangs.
Her body started trembling and her eyes started flashing
Marie Laveau's body begins to tremble and her eyes start flashing with anger.
And she went another man done gone.
Handsome Jack is at risk of harm from Marie Laveau.
So if you ever get down where the black trees grow
If you head down to where the black trees grow.
And meet a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau
If you meet Marie Laveau, a voodoo lady.
If she ever asks you to make her your wife
If Marie Laveau asks you to marry her.
Man, you better stay with her for the rest of your life
You must stay with Marie Laveau for the rest of your life, else you risk being harmed.
Or it'll be another man done gone
You are at risk of harm from Marie Laveau if you do not stay with her.
Contributed by Reagan W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@oldmanballer5088
Down in Louisiana, where the black trees grow
Lives a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau
She got a black cat's tooth and a Mojo bone
And anyone who wouldn't leave her alone
She'd go... another man done gone
She lived in a swamp in a hollow log
With a one-eyed snake and a three-legged dog
Bent, bony body and stringy hair
And if she ever seen y'all messin' 'round there
She'd go... another man done gone
And then one night when the moon was black
Into the swamp came handsome Jack
A no good man like you all know
Lookin' around for Marie Laveau
He said, "Marie Laveau, you lovely witch
Gimme a little charm that'll make me rich
Gimme a million dollars and I tell you what I'll do
This very night, I'm gonna marry you"
Then It'll be (uhh), another man done gone
So Marie done some magic, shook a little sand
Made a million dollars and she put it in his hand
Then she giggled and she wiggled, and she said, "Hey, Hey
I'm gettin' ready for my weddin' day"
But old handsome Jack said, "Goodbye Marie
You're too damned ugly for a rich man like me"
Marie started mumblin', her fangs started gnashin'
Her body started tremblin', and her eyes started flashin'
And she went... another man done gone
So if you ever get down where the black trees grow
And meet a voodoo lady named Marie Laveau
If she ever asks you to make her your wife
Man, you better stay with her for the rest of your life
Or it'll be... another man done gone
(Aah we'll see)
(Another man done gone)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Shel Silverstein / Baxter Taylor
@sheilameeks4858
My late husband used to sing this all the time. ESPECIALLY when we were dating and freshly married back in 1984. I thought he had made the song up, or had simply lost his mind. However, I liked it anyway. I never listened to country music back then, as I was strickly a rock and roll fan. Then, on pur way to work one afternoon, )he had control of the radio that day), the song actually came on!!!! I was floored!! Cool song! My Uncle lives just outside New Orleans, so when we went down to visit him, I asked about Marie Laveaux. He said she was a very famous witch years and years ago. He even took me by a store that was in her name...I refused to go in because I was skerred!!
@TaylorTaller
My dad, who is almost 50, used to sing this to me when I was little! He even did the "eeeee-owww!" part! Hahaha, it reminds me of him! (:
@josephrader2611
Great memories to hold on to
@frankgonzalezofficial3010
Lol my dad did also. He used to pause so I could go eeeeeowwww.
@tonypacheco2318
Dislikes =little or no musical incline...
@d.b.cooper8379
This song was when I was in High school in East Texas and I now live in NH
@m.b.8417
Dude same! My dad and I would listen to this song on a CD he burned!
@lisanelson2150
They just played this at my Uncle Bills funeral last Saturday. Who just happened to be from Louisiana!! Without a doubt Uncle Bill was looking down from the heavens having a good laugh!! That would so be Uncle Bill!! I thank you for being a stand up guy who's smile and sence of humor, lit up the stars and skys which brought us all a brighter today, yet even a brighter tomorrow. Enjoy eternity with the love of your life now, which you most certainly deserved. You are loved and missed by many! RIP
@honestj820
Hello how are you doing?😊
@leslievincent8565
Where has this song been all my 57 years of life??? I love it!!