Skylegs Jackson

Imma tell ya bout my neighbourhood

Imma sell you on the area

Let’s settle in fast like a steak to a Pitbull terrier

See she’s a peaceful bend down here on the great muddy where I’m from

Kids playing ball in the streets, witchdoctors reading fortunes and doing the voodoo, the smell of southern soul food hugging the city

And yes, my brothers (them brothers) hustling away into the dark hours of the night

Just another regular day – paperboy selling the same old news:

“You see Nixon is in the top house and our men still over in Nam

Flower power preaching love not war” yeah she was an ordinary day except for one thing – “What one thing Freddie?”

(laughs) “her”

There she stood eclipsing the sun, an angel’s silhouette

Her eyes deep and dangerous – them eyes was a mantrap

Blackberry lips – I remember thinking to myself: “I bet they’re sweeter than Du Mond's Beignets”

We had seen her many times before – legs stretching to the heavens

They called her ‘SKYLEGS JACKSON’

With a street band playing up on the sidewalk she beckoned me to dance

I didn’t hesitate, I was mesmerised, hypnotised by her hips

They moved like a rattlesnake’s tail

And her feet bounced like she was avoiding hot coals

Mmm yes, we danced we danced we danced

The night came quickly – Full moon illuminating the sky

Crowds pour into the streets and now the Quarter becomes a Mardi Gras

Sight sound smell and taste – a sensory overload

All the while them eyes still deep, still dangerous

She moved close and I moved closer

And she took my hand

And she sent me to the promised land