I hear the drunken howls Comin' up from St. Charles Here in New Orleans I can't complain about anything The sweet taste of everything Walking down Magazine Or down Esplanade Before the cool oak tree shade And then Mariette asks Why haven't you asked me to marry you yet And then a '78 Cadillac drove by And I seem to forget At Elizabeth's 7 early evening, we Walked back to the hotel from Gallier along the Mississippi River To the Faubourg Marigny Stopped on Frenchman Street Got a table outside And had a nice coffee And then Mariette asks Why haven't you asked me to have your children yet Then a friend of mine came and met us And I seemed to forget Headin' to the airport Lookin' at the Superdome Thinkin' bout all the people who'd Lost their lives and their homes Then I look off to the east To the Crystal factory Content as can be Just to be in your company And then Mariette asks Why haven't you asked me to spend The rest of your life with you yet and I paid The taxi fare and I seemed to forget