Louisiana Man

Bobbie Gentry

About Louisiana Man

"Louisiana Man" is a song originally written and recorded by American country artist Doug Kershaw in 1961. It peaked at #10 that year on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart when Kershaw and his brother released it as Rusty and Doug. In 1970 American country music artist Connie Smith reached #14 with a cover version. The single spawned the release of Smith's 1970 studio album I Never Once Stopped Loving You, on which the song was included. This song was recorded as a single by Jan & Dean in 1966 and was planned to be released on their album Carnival of Sound in 1968. Carnival of Sound was not released until 2010. Other versions were recorded as an album track that year by the Seekers, Rick Nelson, and Gene Pitney. Bobbie Gentry covered the song on a 1968 single. Harpers Bizarre recorded it on their 1967 album Anything Goes. It was also recorded by The Hollies. "Louisiana Man" is repeatedly mentioned in the chorus of the Alabama song "If You're Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)." 


Year:
1968
2:35
140 
#1

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At first Mom and Poppa called the little girl a lady
They raised her on the banks of a river bed

A house boat tied to a big tall tree
A home for my poppa and my momma and me

The clock strikes three Poppa jumps to his fee
Already Moma's cookin' Poppa somethin' to eat
At half past Poppa he's a ready to go, he jumps in
His pirogue headed down the bayou

He's got fishin' line strung across the Louisiana River
Got to catch a big fish for us to eat
He's settin' his traps catchin' anything he can
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man,gotta make
A livin' he's a Louisiana man

Muskrat hides hangin' by the dozen, 
Even got a little bitty muskrat cousin
Got 'em out dryin' in the hot hot sun, 
Tomorrow Poppa's gone turn em into money 

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'

On the river floats Poppa's great big boat
That's how me and Poppa get in to town
It takes every bit of a night and day to even reach
A place where the people stay

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 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 there's work to be done."

He's got fishin' line strung across the Louisiana 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 Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man

Poppa done promised me that I could go
He'd even let me see the cowboy show

I saw the cowboys and indians for the first time then
I told my Poppa "Gotta go again" but Poppa said 
"Hon, we got lines to run,
We'll have to come again, 
'Cause there's work to be done."

He's got fishin' line strung across the Louisiana 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 Louisiana man
Gotta make a livin' he's a Louisiana man

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Bobbie Gentry

Roberta Lee Streeter (born July 27, 1944), professionally known as Bobbie Gentry, is an American former singer-songwriter notable as one of the first female country artists to compose and produce her own material. Her songs typically drew on her Mississippi roots to compose vignettes of the Southern United States. more »

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Written by: Doug Kershaw

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Louisiana Man" Origin
The song "Louisiana Man" was originally written and performed by Doug Kershaw in 1961. It is one of the top-selling songs in the history of the American Music Genre.
Bobbie Gentry's Version
American singer-songwriter Bobbie Gentry covered "Louisiana Man" in her 1968 album "Louisiana Man", which was named after the famous song.
Chart Success
The original version by Doug Kershaw went on to peak at number 10 on the Billboard hot country songs chart in 1961.
Connie Smith's Cover
Another great country singer, Connie Smith, included her rendition of "Louisiana Man" on her 1968 album "I Love Charley Brown".
International Recognition
Not only the United States, but the song "Louisiana Man" also gained international success. English rock band The Hollies covered this song in 1969 on their album "Hollies Sing Dylan", and Australian band The Seekers also covered it in 1968.
Popularity Amongst Artists
The song has been covered by more than 800 artists, including famous names like Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis, proving its popularity and influence in the music world.
Nature of the Song
The lyrics of the song describe the lifestyle of a poor Louisiana man, preserving a cultural narrative that resonated with many listeners.
First Song Broadcast from the Moon
Interestingly, "Louisiana Man" was the first song ever to be broadcast back to earth from the moon. The Apollo 12 mission crew played a cassette tape containing the song in 1969.
Doug Kershaw
Doug Kershaw, the original singer and writer of the song, is a fiddle player and one of the most significant representatives of the Cajun music tradition.
Part of a Double-sided hit
"Louisiana Man" was originally released as part of a double A-side single, alongside "Diggy Liggy Lo", both of which became huge hits for Doug Kershaw.

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    Louisiana Man

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1968

    Billboard #100


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