Louisiana Man
P.J. Proby Lyrics

At first Mom and Poppa called the little girl a lady
As a young girl, my parents treated me with respect and expected me to act as a lady would.

They raised her on the banks of a river bed
I grew up living near a river with my parents.

A house boat tied to a big tall tree
Our family lived on a house boat that was anchored to a large, tall tree.

A home for my poppa and my momma and me
Our house boat provided a home for my parents and me.

The clock strikes three Poppa jumps to his fee
Every day at three o'clock, my father would quickly stand up and get ready for work.

Already Moma's cookin' Poppa somethin' to eat
My mother would already be cooking food for my father to eat before he went to work.

At half past Poppa he's a ready to go, he jumps in
By half past three, my father is ready to leave for work and he quickly jumps in his boat.

His pirogue headed down the bayou
My father uses his pirogue boat to travel down the bayou to his fishing spot.

He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River
My father has set up a fishing line across the Louisiana River to catch fish for us to eat.

Got to catch a big fish for us to eat
It is important for my father to catch a large fish to feed our family for the day.

He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
In addition to fishing, my father sets traps to catch other animals that can be sold for money.

Gotta make a livin' he's a 'Lousiana man,gotta make A livin' he's a 'Lousiana man
My father works hard to make a living for our family and provides for us as a true 'Louisiana man.'

Muskrat hides hangin' by the dozen, even got a little bitty Muskrat cousin
My father has many muskrat hides hanging up outside to dry in the sun, including one from a very small muskrat.

Got 'em out dryin' in the hot hot sun, tomorrow Poppa's Gone turn em into money
My father leaves the muskrat hides to dry in the sun and plans to sell them for money the next day.

They call Moma Rita and my Daddy Jack,my little baby Brother on the floor that's Mac,Rhett and Lynn are the Family twins,big brother Eddie's on the bayou fishin'
My mother's name is Rita and my father's name is Jack. My little brother, Mac, is on the floor while my siblings Rhett and Lynn are twins. My older brother Eddie is also fishing on the bayou.

On the river floats Poppa's great big boat That's how me and Poppa get in to town
My father has a large boat that allows us to travel to town by floating down the river.

It takes every bit of a night and day to even reach A place where the people stay
It takes a long, exhausting day and night to reach the nearest town where people live.

Oh I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around That's the day my Poppa takes the furs to town Poppa done promised me that I could go He'd even let me see a cowboy show
I am looking forward to tomorrow when my father takes the muskrats furs to town for me to see a cowboy show. My father promised I could go with him.

I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time then I told my Poppa "gotta go again" but Poppa says"Hon We got lines to run,we'll have to come again,cause theres Work to be done"
I enjoyed seeing the cowboys and Indians for the first time and wanted to go again but my father had work to do and promised we could come back another time.

He's got fishin' line strung across the 'Lousiana River Got a catch a big fish for us to eat He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can Gotta make a livin' he's a' Lousiana man
Just like every other day, my father is fishing and trapping animals to make a living for our family.

Gotta make a livin' he's a' Lousiana man Gotta make A livin' he's a' Lousiana man
My father is a 'Louisiana man' who works hard to provide for our family and make a living.