[Intro] [Drunken, out-of-tune upright piano chords] [Slow, staggered drum beat with a heavy, dragging kick] [Verse 1] Old man standing at de edge of de town (Hat 'pon him head and him coat falling down) Lean 'pon de cane made of twisted wood (Nobody cross him, even if dem could) I bring de tobacco and a bottle of rum (Wait for de Master, wait for him to come) [Verse 2] Him walk with a limp and a heavy, slow drag (Spirit inna bottle, spirit inna bag) Open your ears to de words dat him speak (Strength for de weary, strength for de weak) One road is silver, de next one is black (Once you go forward, you never look back) [Chorus] Papa Legba, won't you turn de key? We stagger and swing inna de middle-night Oh, Master of de Crossroads, hear de call (Break down de fence and break down de wall) [Bridge] [Tempo slows, piano becomes more erratic and dissonant] Pour out de liquor 'pon de dry, dusty ground (Listen for de bells and de rattling sound) Him laughing in de shadows, him laughing in de dark (Spirit a-jumpin' from a tiny little spark) Open it! Open it! Papa, let us through! (We bring de red and we bring de blue) [Verse 3] De Loa are coming, I feel dem a-creep (Duppy wake up while de rest of dem sleep) Legba is smoking, de air turning thick (Time for de spirits to play a little trick) De accordion a-sighing, de piano a-groan (Papa Legba sitting 'pon him crossroads throne) [Chorus] Papa Legba, won't you turn de key? We stagger and swing inna de middle-night Oh, Master of de Crossroads, hear de call (Break down de fence and break down de wall) [Outro] [Piano slows to a crawl, one note at a time] Gate open wide... Papa... (Loa coming home... Loa coming home) Stumble in de dark... Papa Legba! Papa Legba! Papa Legba Papa Legba! Papa Legba! Papa Legba! Papa Legba! [End]
