[I Came For The Food] [Intro - accordion, fiddle, rubboard, lively two-step] I smelled that gumbo cooking halfway down the road I’d follow *THAT* scent wherever it goes Somebody waved me over, “Girl, come inside!” I replied, “but I don’t *KNOW* y’all.” She laughed, [woman’s laugh], “well, neither did I!” [Verse 1] I came for the crawfish, I came for the spice I came for the jambalaya and the dirty rice I found me a plate and I found me a chair Then a woman grabbed my elbow, “Mon Cher, you sit right there” I asked, “Who are you?” She smiled, “I be Mama Jean” I pointed at the others, “And who are they?” “Well, Dat’s UNCLE Gene” I gestured toward a woman who was yelling out the door “Dat’s Cousin Linda, but don’t axe what she be yelling for” [Chorus] I came for the food, I came for the feast I didn’t know a soul, but wanted something to eat Somebody’s crying and somebody’s mad Somebody’s yelling about somebody’s dad I came for the food, but I stayed for the fight Now I’m holding somebody’s purse off to the right I came as a stranger, but Lord, look at me I know everybody’s bidness and it’s only half past three [Verse 2] I asked who was arguing, somebody said, “Dat’s Ray” I asked, “Who is Ray?” “He be family, okay?” I pointed at the woman who was throwing her shoe “Dat’s his ex-girlfriend.” I blinked, “Oh, Lord, who knew?” Then Mama leaned closer and lowered her voice “Don’t repeat dis, mon cher, but Ray made a bad bad choice” I laughed, “well, why tell *ME?” She shrugged, “you look trustworthy” [Chorus] I came for the food, I came for the feast I didn’t know a soul, but wanted something to eat Somebody’s crying and somebody’s mad Somebody’s yelling about somebody’s dad I came for the food, but I stayed for the fight Now I’m holding somebody’s purse off to the right I came as a stranger, but Lord, look at me I know everybody’s bidness and it’s only half past three [Verse 3] Then somebody shouted, “hide da keys!” I asked, “Why?” “Because he had too much ta drink!” They pointed me down the hall I cried, “I don’t know that man at all!” A woman handed me a beer, “Welcome to the crew” I laughed, “I’ve known y’all two hours.” “Mon Cher, dat’s long ‘nough fur you” Then somebody pulled me dancing and the fiddle started fast I came here for a plate of food and now I’m having a blast [Bridge - half-spoken, accordion underneath] Now hold on… I still don’t know who half these people are. But apparently… They know me. [Accordion and fiddle burst] [Verse 4] By sunset I knew secrets I had never meant to hear I knew who owed who money and who’d been drinking too much beer I knew who broke up with who and who had told a lie I knew who wasn’t welcome and who was stopping by Then Mama put her arm around me, “Mon Cher, don’t cha go” I answered, “I really ought to though.” She laughed, “You’s family now, you know” I protested while she poured me another drink She grinned, “Honey, stay a lil’ longer. You’ll know what *everybody* thinks” [Final Chorus] I came for the food, I came for the feast I didn’t know a soul, but wanted something to eat Somebody’s crying and somebody’s mad Somebody’s dancing with somebody’s dad I came for the food, but I stayed for the night Now I’m dancing underneath the porch light I came as a stranger, but I ain’t leaving alone They gave me a plate for later and somebody gave me a phone [Final Tag - call and response] I came for the food! [Accordion] Stayed for the fight! [Fiddle] Came for the gumbo! [Rubboard] Stayed all night! [Band stop]
