I come back to New Orleans
'cause it's the only place I been
Where the air's so thick and sweet
It feels like lovin' arms around me

Lazy trees, an ocean breeze
The rainy evenings listenin'
To music oozing out of every door

It's like my heaven made to order
'side the border of the quarter
Lord ain't no place like I ever been before

I used to watch and wonder
At the ones who sang the blues
And try to find out why they wanna get so low
But even though I can't explain it now
I join in when they're singin'
And when the song is over
Cry for more, Oh lord!

There's something 'bout the way
The women walk in New Orleans
Maybe it's just me 'cause
I'm in love with all I seen there
Bedroom by the balcony
Laughter lifting from the streets -
Forgetting what my pocketwatch is for
It's like my heaven made to order
Inside the border of the quarter
Lord there's no place like I ever been before

I used to watch and wonder
At the ones who sang the blues
And try to find out why they wanna get so low
But even though I can't explain it now
I join in when they're singin'
And when the song is over
Cry for more, "Oh lord!"

I come back to New Orleans
'cause that's the only place I been
Where the air's so thick and sweet
Feels like lovin' arms around me

Lazy trees, an ocean breeze
Rainy evenings listenin'
To music oozing out of every door

It's like my heaven made to order
'side the border of the quarter
Lord ain't no place like I ever been before