It was muggy July around supper time

When I pulled into New Orleans

I got dropped off at South Rampart Street

I was hungry for a plate of greens



I made my way down the banquette

Where I could see an open door

And overhead a sign made of painted pine read

The Dixie Drug Store



Peppers and roots were hanging 

From the rafters above

There were oils and sprays all on display

For money luck and for love



I reached down to pick one up

When a dark hand grabbed my arm

And before I could see just who it was

She said you don't want that charm



The last man to walk that thing out of here

Just up and disappeared

Found his wallet and his wingtip shoes

Near a tombstone down in Algiers



What you need my travelling friend

Is a place to wash your jeans

And I wouldn't be the least surprised

If you were hungry for a plate of greens



She beckoned me on up the stairs

For she'd done made up her mind

Said take off your hat and kick off your boots

And leave your pride behind



She was turnin' tricks and nothing clicked

And the room was black as pitch

She had me backed up against the wall

I was fumbling for the switch



I could hear her crack the shutters

As I felt a little draft

When she gave me a shove into the tub

And said it's time to take your bath



I lay there in my stockinged feet

I was soaked from head to toe

At the same time down on Rampart Street

I heard the trumpet blow



Sparks started poppin' from an old tin cup

Sitting on the window sill

The whole place smelled like matches

And onions on the grill



I was catchin' cold and I told her so

As I let out a little cough

She told me since my pants were clean

Why don't I just dry off



I found myself a little tea-towel

Wrapped it around my waist

I was standin' there half naked 

When I noticed we were face to face



And now it seemed the picture's 

Gettin' pretty strange

Stripped bare in her chamber and 

I hadn't even asked her name



I started to inquire

She knocked me upside the head

My noggin felt on fire

As she pulled me into bed



You needn't ask no questions

Of the things that don't concern you

If you aren't afraid of the fire son

Fire it won't burn you



She took me down to a secret place

In the bayou of her blankets

She offered to share her bourbon

I thanked her then I drank it



Thru a small crack in the ceiling

Burst the Louisiana moon

It shone down on our bodies

And we began to croon



Like a couple of coyotes

We were howling thru the night

And I swear they were a beatin' those

Congo drums outside



I told her she was crazy

And she replied it's true

And she finally introduced herself

As the famous Marie Laveau



I said now come on darlin'

She died a century ago

Don't believe the paper she said

It simply isn't so



I shot back that's impossible

There ain't a ghost of a chance

But I wouldn't turn a pretty ghost down 

If she asked me up to dance



We laughed until the mornin'

By then my pants had dried

I picked up my hat and pulled on my boots

And I gathered up my pride



I figured she had done stepped out

I didn't see her anywhere

And I set out to find her

I headed on downstairs



Got down to the bottom

I couldn't believe my eyes

Gone were all the bottles

And the remedy supplies



I shouted out for Marie

I darted out the door

An old man on the wooden porch said

What you in there for



Son you got no business

The hoodoo store's been closed

Long as I remember

A century I suppose



But Mister I just spent the night

With a young gal named Laveau

He said the Widow Paris

Done had a little laugh on you



I said you mean to tell me

That was the voodooin'

He nodded yes none other

The Queen of New Orleans