Lyrics
Won't you come along with me
Invitation for someone to join the speaker on a journey.
To the Mississippi
Reference to the Mississippi River as the starting point of the journey.
We'll take a boat to the land of dreams
Expressing the intention to travel to a place of dreams by boat.
Steam down the river, down to New Orleans
Describing the journey downstream to New Orleans via steamboat.
The band's there to meet us
Anticipation of a musical reception upon arrival.
Old friends there to greet us
Expectation of meeting old friends in New Orleans.
Where all the proud and elite folks meet
Reference to a place where proud and elite individuals gather.
Heaven on earth, they call it Basin Street
Describing New Orleans as a heavenly place, specifically Basin Street.
Basin Street is the street
Identification of Basin Street as a prominent location.
Where the best folks always meet
Highlighting Basin Street as a meeting place for the best people.
In New Orleans, land of dreams
Characterizing New Orleans as a dreamlike destination.
You'll never know how nice it seems,
Expressing the difficulty of fully understanding the beauty of Basin Street.
Or just how much it really means
Emphasizing the significance of Basin Street.
Glad to be, oh yes-sirree
Expressing happiness and contentment about being in Basin Street.
Where welcome's free and dear to me
Highlighting the warmth of the welcome in Basin Street.
Where I can lose, lose my Basin Street Blues
Expressing the freedom to lose oneself in the music and atmosphere of Basin Street.
Basin Street, oh Basin Street
Reiteration and emphasis on the significance of Basin Street.
Is the street, mama
Further emphasis on Basin Street and its importance in the speaker's perspective.
New Orleans, land of dreams
Reiteration of New Orleans as a dreamlike place.
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