Guess! where do you think I'm going when the winds start blowing strong?
Guess! where do think I'm going when the nights start goring long?
I ain't going East, I ain't going West,
I ain't going over the cuckoo's nest,
I'm bound for the town that I love best
Where life is one sweet song:

Way down yonder in New Orleans
In the land of dreamy scenes
There's a garden of Eden
That's what I mean,
Creole babies with flashing eyes
Softly whisper with tender sighs— Stop!
Oh! won't you give your lady fair a little smile, Stop!
You bet your life you'll linger there— a little while
There is heaven right here on earth
With those beautiful queens,
Way down yonder in New Orleans.

Guess! what do you think I'm thinking when you think I'm thinking wrong?
Guess! what do you think I'm thinking when I'm thinking all night long,
I ain't thinking this, I ain't thinking that,
I cannot be thinking about your hat,
My heart does not start to pit-a-pat
Unless I hear this song:

Way down yonder in New Orleans
In the land of dreamy scenes
There's a garden of Eden
That's what I mean,
Creole babies with flashing eyes
Softly whisper with tender sighs— Stop!
Oh! won't you give your lady fair a little smile, Stop!
You bet your life you'll linger there— a little while
They've got angels right here on earth
Wearing little blue jeans,
Way down yonder in New Orleans

The orange blossoms' sweet aroma
And the strains of La Paloma
Seem to throw me into a coma
When the shadows play.
Again I see a peacherino
Dance the you know what I mean-o
She could shake a mean tambourino
So I hear the folks say. But when those
[to middle of CHORUS] Creole babies...