New Orleans Wins the War
New Orleans Triumphs: A Musical Journey through Post-War Reflections
Lyrics
Don't remember much about my baby days
Reflecting on infancy, lacking clear memories.
But I been told
Acknowledging information received about early life.
We used to live on Willow near the Garden District
Previous residence on Willow near the Garden District.
Next to the Sugar Bowl
Proximity to the Sugar Bowl, a symbol of success.
Momma used to wheel me past an ice cream wagon
Mother pushing the speaker past an ice cream wagon.
One side for White and one side for Colored
Racial segregation indicated by separate sides for White and Colored.
I remember trash cans floatin' down Canal Street
Recollection of trash cans floating on Canal Street during rain.
It rained every day one summer
Memories of a rainy summer.
Momma used to take me to Audubon Park
Mother's guidance in Audubon Park to teach about the world.
Show me the ways of the world
Mother's instruction on racial distinctions.
She said "here comes a white boy there goes a black one, that one's an octoroon
Description of people based on race and ethnicity.
This little cookie here's a macaroon, that big round thing's a red balloon
Identification of the speaker as a macaroon, a metaphorical term.
And the paper down here's called the Picayune
Reference to the local newspaper, the Picayune.
And here's a New Orleans tune"
Acknowledgment of a New Orleans tune.
In 1948 my Daddy came to the city
Introduction of the father arriving in 1948.
Told the people that they'd won the war
Announcement that the city won the war (unclear which war).
Maybe they'd heard it, maybe not
Speculation on whether people heard and remembered the news.
Probably they'd heard it and just forgot
Suggesting a potential forgetfulness of the victory.
Cause they built him a platform there in Jackson Square
Creation of a platform for the father in Jackson Square.
And the people came to hear him from everywhere
Crowds gathering to hear the father's speech.
They started to party and they partied some more
Commencement of celebrations and parties in the city.
Cause New Orleans had won the war
Assertion that New Orleans had won the war.
(We knew we'd do it, we done whipped the Yankees)
Expression of confidence in the victory over the Yankees.
Daddy said, "I'm gonna get this boy out of this place
Father's decision to remove the speaker from the city.
Bound to sap his strength
Concern about the negative influence of the city on the speaker.
People have fun here, and I think that they should
Recognition of the fun in the city but skepticism about its benefits.
But nobody from here every come to no good
Pessimistic view on the prospects of those from New Orleans.
They're gonna pickle him in brandy and tell him he's saved
Expectation that the speaker will be misled and deceived.
Then throw fireworks all 'round his grave"
Predicting celebratory events at the speaker's grave.
So he took us down to the airport, and flew us back to L.A.
Father's action of taking the speaker to the airport and leaving for L.A.
That was the end of my baby days
End of the speaker's childhood and departure from New Orleans.
Blue blue morning, blue blue day
Reference to a melancholic morning and the fading of bad dreams.
All your bad dreams drift away
Continuation of the theme of dispelling negative thoughts.
It's a blue blue morning, of a blue blue day
Repetition of the blue morning imagery and dispelling bad dreams.
Lose those bad dreams
Encouragement to let go of negative thoughts and dreams.
Those gray clouds above you, what you want them around with you for?
Questioning the presence of gray clouds when one has someone to love.
You got someone to love you
Expression of contentment with having someone to love.
Who could ask for more?
Rhetorical question about needing more than having someone to love.
It's a blue blue morning, of a blue blue day
Reiteration of the blue morning theme and dispelling bad dreams.
All your bad dreams drift away
Continued encouragement to let go of negative dreams.
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