Gumbo John was a swamper
He had a small cafe
A little ol' shack just outside of Baton Rouge
Everybody around said you had it made
If you were looking for the right kind of food

You just kick back and let the evening come
Out on the back porch at Gumbo John's

Me and the boys in the band were needing a break
We were covered with road dust and the homesick blues
So we decided to stop and spend a few days
Peel a few crawdads... check out the brew

Southern culture on the skids but it sure is fun
Out on the back porch at Gumbo John's

He had an alligator named Clyde out back in a little stream
He said, boys he's a friend of mine but he's still real mean
He said you know I used to play the guitar myself
He held up his hand and just had two fingers left

It was feeding time one evening he'd had a few beers
Guess he got just a little too close... 'cause one chomp
And ol' Clyde he ended his musical career
But he could still rear back and sing that Jolie blonde
Out on the back porch at Gumbo John's
You just kick back and let the evening come
Out on the back porch at Gumbo John's, Gumbo John's