Now, when I was just a little boy 
 Standin' to my daddy's knee 
 My poppa said, "Son, don't let the man get you 
 Do what he done to me" 
 'Cause he'll get you 
 'Cause he'll get you now, now 
 
 And I can remember the fourth of July 
 Runnin' through the backwood, bare 
 And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin' 
 Chasin' down a hoodoo there 
 Chasin' down a hoodoo there 
 
 Born on the bayou 
 Born on the bayou 
 Born on the bayou 
 Lord, Lord 
 
 Wish I was back on the bayou 
 Rollin' with some Cajun Queen 
 Wishin' I were a fast freight train 
 Just a chooglin' on down to New Orleans 
 
 Born on the bayou 
 Born on the bayou 
 Born on the bayou 
 Do it, do it, do it, do it, oh, Lord 
 
 Oh, get back boy 
 
 I can remember the fourth of July 
 Runnin' through the backwood bare 
 And I can still hear my old hound dog barkin' 
 Chasin' down a hoodoo there 
 Chasin' down a hoodoo there 
 
 Born on the bayou 
 Born on the bayou 
 Born on the bayou 
 All right, do, do, do, do