i was born in los angeles raised in the south part i am not ashamed they had there angels but none did compare with the goddess of new orleans i sang to the princesses of all the county fairs queens of the rockies they all listened with disdain but all got quiet when i poured my voice into the ear of the goddess of new orleans down in the quarter the storm took a rest streets all wet with puddles full of rain i turned a corner and with flowers in her hair there lay the goddess of new orleans i knelt beside her and played her my guitar she did not judge me by my rags and stains either rich man or poor man it seems in her eyes they re all the same they say that robert johnson never sold his soul just born with a gift and practiced night and day but he learned the blues when his love was denied by the goddess of new orleans and lincoln died laughing so the story goes got shot during the funniest line of the play but the people of louisiana know he just smiled at the mention of her name now im rambling through the tennessee hills but i promised ill go see her again either in her palace or in the gutter i will kneel before the goddess of new orleans