Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
Even got a lady mink, a muskrat's cousin
He's got fishing lines strung across the Louisiana Rivers
To even reach a place where the people stay
Takes him every bit of a night and a day
Well, they call mama Rita and my daddy Jack
Tomorrow papa's gonna turn 'em into money
Got 'em out drying in the hot, hot sun
Well, Papa said, "Son we've got lines to run
Gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
I told my pop I've gotta go again
He's gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
And I can hardly wait until tomorrow comes around
A home for my papa and my mama and me
I saw the cowboys and Indians for the first time then
And that's how my papa goes into town
The clock strikes three and papa jumps to his feet
We'll come back again but first there's work to be done"
Bren and Lin are the family twins
Gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
My Muskrat hides hanging by the dozens
On a houseboat tied to a big tall tree
Gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
That's the day my papa takes his furs to town
Papa promised me that I could go
Gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
Gotta make a living, he's a Louisiana man
Little baby brother on the floor that's Mack
He's setting traps in the swamp catching anything he can
He jumps in his pirogue headed down the bayou
He'd even let me see a cowboy show
Gotta catch a big fish for us to eat
At half past, papa he's ready to go
He's got fishing lines strung across the Louisiana Rivers
He's setting traps in the swamp catching anything he can
Already mama's cooking papa something to eat
On the river floats papa's great big boat
And big brother Ed's on the bayou fishing
