I WAS BORN IN THE SOUTHERN LAND
THAT’S WHERE I BECAME A MAN
MY ROOTS WAS DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS
THE BIRTH OF JAZZ AND VOODOO QUEENS
FROM THE HEART OF LOUISIANA
MARIE LAVEAUX, AND MOJO HANNAH
GREW UP ON THE MUSIC OF THE STREETS
SECOND LINE BANDS AND THE INDIAN BEATS
THAT’S WHERE IT’S GOING DOWN
BACK ON MY STOMPIN’ GROUND
‘FESSER LONGHAIR, FATS DOMINO
FROM SMILEY LEWIS, TO THE GREAT SATCHMO
FROM THE WILD TCHOUPATOULAS, TO THE CREOLE WILD WEST
NEITHER TRIBE DIDN’T TAKE NO MESS
FROM THE WAY UP TOWN IN THE THIRTEENTH WARD
THE CRESCENT CITY WAS MY BACK YARD
HUNG WITH MAC REBENNACK, AND SCARFACE JOHN,
HUNG IN THE DEW DROP, ALL NIGHT LONG
THAT’S WHERE IT’S GOING DOWN
BACK ON MY STOMPIN’ GROUND
WAY DOWN YONDER IN NEW ORLEANS
THE LAND OF THEM CREOLE QUEENS
I SURE LOVE THIS SOUTHERN TOWN
IT GOT ME THROUGH LOTS OF UPS AND DOWNS
TIMES WERE BAD, AND TIMES WERE GOOD
I OWE IT ALL TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD
FROM THE NINTH WARD TO WAY UPTOWN
EVERY BLOCK WAS MY STOMPING GROUNDS
THAT’S WHERE IT’S GOING DOWN
BACK ON MY STOMPIN’ GROUND