On the corner of Dauphine and Dumaine, I picked up a trumpet and I started to play
I hit 25 blue notes all in a row, the crowd dispersed headed for the next show
A Creole girl taught me to dance watched me kick out my legs and throw up my hands
She said there’s room in this city for a guy with no pity, for himself or anybody else

[Chorus]
I lost every dollar down in the quarter
I won ‘em back from all the pimps and the lawyers
They threw me their coins, I sang ‘em my songs
Now I'm sipping my whiskey down in preservation hall

I exposed myself for a couple of beads
Got thrown in a Tuba by the NOPD
I got blowed by a 400 pound man, saying, get the hell out of my instrument
Played my banjo, down in Jackson square, sang out loud so the good lord would know I was there
This Spanish moss feels like all the short hairs that grow
On my baby where I lay my head when I get home

[Chorus]
I lost every dollar down in the quarter
I won ‘em back from all the pimps and the lawyers
They threw me their coins, I sang ‘em my songs
Now I'm sipping my whiskey down in Preservation Hall

[Instrumental Interlude]
[Verse 3]
Played my banjo, down in Jackson square
Sang out loud so the good lord would know I was there
They told me my fortune, they told me it clear
They said you go back to Frisco but your heart stays here

[Chorus]
I lost every dollar down in the quarter
I won ‘em back from all the pimps and the lawyers
They threw me their coins, I sang ‘em my songs
Now I'm sipping my whiskey down in Preservation Hall
Now I'm sipping my whiskey down in Preservation Hall