A Tribute - Da Mardi Gras Parades

We got da family ladders up
And da side streets are all guarded.
We got da flambeaux all lit up
Let’s get dis Mardi Gras started.

Krewe du Vieux, Krewe of Cork, and den da mighty Krewe of Oshun.
Here come da Mardi Gas parades, let’s start up da commotion!
Where Ya at Cleopatra, Where Ya at Pontchartrain.
Let’s catch some Mardi Gras beads while we standin in da rain!

Uptown’s got Choctaw and Freret,
and da Marigny has ‘tit Rex.
Dere’s a party goin on
At my momma’s duplex.
Give me some Sparta, and some Pygmalion and some Krewe of Carrollton.
Here come all da parades,
let’s start havin us some fun!

Here comes da Krewe of Alla and da Krewe of King Arthur, too.
Here comes da Krewe of Barkus with all dere doggy poo!
Here’s da Ancient Druids and da Mystic Krewe of Nyx.
If I wear a fancy costume, will I meet some pretty chicks?

Here come da Knights of Chaos and da Knights of Babylon.
The Mardi Gras parades have started so let’s get our party on!
Here comes da Krewe of Muses with all dem silly girls.
I hope to catch a fancy shoe from a lady in pink curls!

And dere’s da Krewe of Hermes, followed by Le Krewe d'Etat,
Followed by Krewe of Morpheus.
Dis is how da Who Dats play!
Here’s come da Krewe of Iris, followed by da Krewe of Tucks.
I want me a toilet plunger and some plastic Mardi Gras cups!

Da chefs have dere Krewe of Lafcadio,
and da Yats have da Endymion ball.
Put on your gown, put up your hair, let’s party down one and all!
Here comes da Krewe of Okeanos, and den Mid-City and da Krewe of Thoth.
Der’s da Krewe of Bacchus Gorilla.
We havin fun dawlin, you and me both!

Here comes da Krewe of Proteus with der old floats and plastic beads.
Some of these old dudes are cheap and don’t fill all our parade needs!
But den dere’s da Krewe of Orpheus wit da bands and super floats.
They pull out all der Mardi Gras best.
Da crowd is yellin wit positive votes!

Den we catch Rex, da Crescent City and da thousands of Elks club trucks.
I wouldn't trade my Mardi Gras day for nothin, even a million bucks!
Mardi Gras Day is very special
for grandmas and chilrin da same.
After fightin all day for dem beads and doubloons
Then return home to ease the pain.

We put da doubloons in da binders
And we eat da last piece of king cake.
And den we donate all da Mardi Gras beads
To St. Micheal’s for da charity’s sake.
We wake up early da next morning
To go to Church for da holy ashes.
Den we get down on our knees to tank da Lord
fo’ da Pussyfooters and dere long eyelashes...

Now da season is finally over.
No more king cake, cold beer or fancy dishes.
Now we look forward to forty days of fastin and Friday nights frying nothin but fishes. cheap ball gowns
After all da parades and balls are over
and your money has all been spent
It’s time to move past da Mardi Gras
and put away all our liquor for da Lent!

© 2017 Jeffrey Pipes Guice