Story Behind The Song

I love to visit the French Quarter in New Orleans. What charm and decadence! It draws all sorts of people and this story is about some destitute rural folks who come to town to hustle a little money.

Song Description

The song describes members of a poor rural family who come to New Orleans to beg for money in the French Quarter. With limited skills, they dance and sell sexual favors on the street corners. They sleep in alleys and the sister has a baby. They go home broke with another mouth to feed.

Lyrics

Make a Little Money
(Intro)
I. We went to town with Granny's ole washboard.
You blew, I sucked on that harmonica.
Stomp bottle caps, call it tap dance.
Sally on th' corner, sellin' her cat.
We went to town to make a little money. Yeah su'! Hey!
(Turnaround)
(Chorus)
Make a little money. (Turnaround) Make a little money. (Turnaround)
Sleepin' in th' alley. Where's Mustang Sally?
Mama said, "You dead, if you can't keep us fed."
So, make a little money. (Turnaround) Make a little money. (Turnaround)
II. Drunk lady point and laugh, "They're so pitiful."
"Little Julie Hoppers!" She threw us a dollar bill.
Beggin' on th' streets ain't gettin' us fat.
Sally had a baby, so that ends that.
We went to town to make a little money. Yeah su'! Hey!
(Turnaround)
(Chorus)
Make a little money. (Turnaround) Make a little money. (Turnaround)
Sleepin' in th' alley. Where's Mustang Sally?
Mama said, "You dead, if you can't keep us fed."
So, make a little money. (Turnaround) Make a little money. (Turnaround)
III. We went to town where money can be made.
We came home broke, totin' a bitty babe.
Mama said, "This kid looks just like us."
"Tough and needin' a little love."
We went to town to make a little money. Yea su'! Hey!
(Turnaround)
(Tag) Yeah su'! Hey! Make a little money. (Turnaround) Yeah su'! Hey! Make a little money.(Turnaround) Yeah su'! Hey! Make a little money. (Turnaround) Yeah su'! Hey! Make a little money. Yeah su'! Make a little money. Yeah su'!