Old Ways Burn Hot

“Old Ways Burn Hot” (Louisiana Creole folk + Zydeco rock + swamp‑rock story‑song) Verse 1 — Old Ways Accordion hummin’ low by the chenière line, Bougre runnin’ a still where the palmettos shine, Cocodrie teeth hangin’ over the mash for luck, Sayin’ pasteur, this is how the old ways stuck. He learned from his grand‑père how to keep it hid, White lightning drippin’ from a copper worm lid, Rubboard scrapin’ time like a heartbeat’s thump, Fiddle cuttin’ shadows in the bayou’s hump. Pre‑Chorus But the new ways came with a badge and a light, Revenuers guetter down the coulee at night, And the bougre felt a tremble in the cypress knee, Like the swamp whisperin’, boy, they comin’ for thee. Chorus — Warning Don’t follow that fifolet, Cocodrie don’t forget, Old ways burn hot when the new ways set, Leave that busted still alone, Or the swamp gon’ take you home. Verse 2 — Crossing He threw a wanga on a man who talked, Said he crossed him clean when the mash got balked, But the firebox hissed like a serpent’s grin, Cottonmouth smile sayin’ you ain’t gonna win. Low wine bubbled up hotter than sin, Coil blew wide, let the shine roll in, Black water swallowed every copper spark, And the cocodrie coughed in the still‑hot dark. Pre‑Chorus Now the new ways circle with a siren’s cry, But the old ways linger where the spirits lie, And the bougre stands frozen in the swamp’s deep breath, Knowin’ some work don’t fix — it just calls death. Chorus — Warning Don’t follow that fifolet, Cocodrie don’t forget, Old ways burn hot when the new ways set, Leave that busted still alone, Or the swamp gon’ take you home. Bridge — Legend They say if you smell sugar‑smoke with no fire, And hear a fiddle moan like a funeral choir, Don’t step past the chenière into the black water’s dome, ’Cause the cocodrie that drank the mash still drags bones home. Final Chorus Don’t follow that fifolet, Cocodrie don’t forget, Old ways burn hot when the new ways set, Leave that busted still alone, Or the swamp gon’ take you home.