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