Lyrics from  Jerry Giddens and Killeen Foundry – Damn it Abby!

 

New Orleans 1919:  Kid Ory’s Lullaby for Babette (Giddens)

 

I see the river escape to the sea

I feel the Cathedral tower over me

I was young and careless and wild-eyed lonely

I can see New Orleans in 1919

 

I remember the sweet Septembers

I remember the boiling nights

I remember my own surrender

I remember those beautiful nights

 

Can’t you see the lights on Canal

Can’t you see me standing there

Can’t we call back, Can’t we call back

Those beautiful nights

 

I see the river escape to the sea

I feel the Cathedral tower over me

I was young and careless and wild-eyed lonely

I can see New Orleans in 1919

 

Shame is Crying (Hodges/Giddens)

 

Shame is crying                 

The trees are bare                                   

I see the snowy fields                                    

The pink-eyed hare

And your lovely eyes                                            

And your lovely eyes                 

Light the corners                                                              

Of everyman’s sky        

Your soft young flesh                 

Torn from the bone        

The hawks are gathering                 

The talkin’ is done        

 

They’re straight up blowing me down  

They’re downright tearing me up        

They’re straight up blowing me down

They’re blowing me down           

 

Shame is crying

The streets are bare        

A feather falls from a thousand feet

Hovers in the air  

   

 

Madeline’s Quilt (Giddens)

 

He went down to the levee last night

Hung around under a hundred watt light                                

Illuminated in a similar way

Stood Hortense and her lover Jade

He moved to find his way around

He new they thought he looked like a sad clown

They did not see his noble heart

And only Madeline sensed this tragic start

 

Hortense had summoned the girl that night

Knew he would stumble down the alley all right

In this place she called home

She knew she’d find them there alone

On this bitter pill she chewed

And watched as Jade’s mood turned blue

Then quietly said, find the man

And as a signal kiss his beautiful hands.

Madeline got drunker still

And passed out under the window sill

She woke to hear his heart break

When Jade kissed his hands and back away

Right outside the window he fell

Killed by a bullet from a women’s spell

Was it Hortense or Madeline’s quilt

That drug that lover to St. Louie’s gate

Who paused to say a prayer

Then disappeared down a rain-soaked alley

An old pirate’s pathe

 

When the Weather Breaks (Hodges/Giddens)

 

When the weather breaks

I’m gonna mend the fences

When the weather breaks

I’m gonna go out dancin’                

         go out dancin’                               

         go out dancin’  

One last Saturday night

One last Saturday night

 

When the weather breaks

I’m gonna cross the river

When the weather breaks

I’m gonna find you kiss you

         find you kiss you

         find you touch you

One last Saturday night

One last Saturday night

 

Acadiana Farewell  (Giddens)

 

Acadiana Farewell                        

Acadiana Farewell                 

I Go to Fish Another Shore         

I Go to Fish Another Shore         

Acadiana Farewell         

Acadiana Farewell         

I Know Not What Else to Do         

Evangeline Farewell

Evangeline Farewell

I’ll Call for You Girl, in a Year, I Swear

I’ll Call for You Girl, in a Year, I Swear

Evangeline Farewell

Evangeline Farewell

I’ll Hear Your Voice on the Ocean Breeze

Louisiana Farewell

Louisiana Farewell

You took me In When I Had No Place to Go

You took me in When I Had No Place to Go

Acadiana Farewell

Acadiana Farewell

I Go To Fish Another Shore

 

Swimming in Roses (Giddens)

 

In your garden In your night

I found you dancing I laid you down

Swimming in Roses

Thirsty roots and restless leaves

 

In your garden In your night

I found you wanting I found desire

Swimming in Roses

Thirsty roots and restless leaves

 

We burned the garden It burned all night

The fire warmed us The fire lied

Swimming in Roses

Thirsty roots and restless leaves

 

 

Bayou St. John  (Giddens)

 

St. John’s got a parish got a sheriff too

That’s why I spent the night in Tangipahoa

And, darlin’, I was thinkin’ about you

 

St. John’s got a parish got a bayou too

I wish I’d never seen its dark green waters

Or, met the likes of you

 

St. John’s got a parish got a sheriff too

He’s got a body in an alley up here

He wants to lay on you

 

St. John’s got a parish got a bayou too

I know those dark green waters

Hold a secret just for you

        

From the Old Quarter up the Grand Route St. John

You don’t linger with the local boys

While the local girls are looking on

 

St. John’s got a parish got a sheriff too

He’s gonna turn his back on me darlin’

When he’s thinkin’ about you

 

St. John’s got a parish got a bayou too

Up there the boats play music

A melody just for you

 

Maggie (Giddens)

 

If you ever sing for Mother and she smiles

Hold that memory for me for a while

If you ever dream of calm in the storm

Take my hand and follow me there

Then I go drinkin’ again Maggie

I go drinkin’ again

If you ever need the rain to fall for you

Stomp the ground and say a prayer

If you ever dream of calm in the storm

Come to the stockyards and follow me there

Then I go drinkin’ again Maggie

I go drinkin’ again