Released: 1980
Mel McDaniel’s ‘Louisiana Saturday Night’ is a toe-tappin’ anthem that captures the essence of Southern charm and hospitality. It’s all about kickin’ back, lettin’ loose, and enjoyin’ the simple pleasures of life with family and friends.
The lyrics ‘Well, you get down the fiddle and you get down the bow, Kick off your shoes and you throw ’em on the floor, Dance in the kitchen ’til the mornin’ light, Louisiana Saturday night,’ are a call to celebration. The fiddle and bow symbolize the heart and soul of country music, while kickin’ off your shoes is a metaphor for relaxin’ and havin’ a good time.
‘Waiting in the front yard sitting on a log, A single-shot rifle and a one-eyed dog, Yonder come my kinfolk, in the moonlight, Louisiana Saturday night.’ These lines paint a picture of a laid-back country life. The single-shot rifle and one-eyed dog suggest a rugged, outdoorsy lifestyle, while ‘yonder come my kinfolk’ means family members are comin’ over for the festivities.
‘My brother Bill and my other brother Jack, Belly full of beer and a possum in a sack, 15 kids in the front porch light, Louisana Saturday night.’ Here, McDaniel introduces us to his brothers, who’ve been enjoyin’ the party with a ‘belly full of beer’. The ‘possum in a sack’ suggests they’ve been out huntin’, a common pastime in the South. The ’15 kids in the front porch light’ shows a big, close-knit family gatherin’.
‘When your kinfolk leave and the kids get fed, Me and my woman gonna slip off to bed, Have a little fun when we turn out the lights, Louisiana Saturday night.’ This verse adds a dash of romance to the song, hintin’ at the intimate moments between the singer and his woman once the party’s over and they’re alone.
The chorus, repeated throughout the song, serves as a reminder of the joy and freedom found in these simple, rural gatherings. The fiddle music, the dancing, the camaraderie – it’s all part of what makes a ‘Louisiana Saturday Night’ special.
