Oh, the train pulled into New Orleans and I made my way downtown

Where saints and sinners chance to meet; what they call the neutral ground

Met a girl on the Rue Royal; she turned my head around

Swirling like the mist that creeps along the neutral ground, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well, she led me to the riverside and slipped her hand in mine

I held on to a treasure like I never dreamed I'd find

The band was playing Dixieland – oh, how I loved that sound

We stood and kissed; the streetcars rumbled up the neutral ground, yeah, yeah, yeah

Well, I quit my job – I swear I never liked it anyway

Working up in Illinois for a lowly salesman's pay

Now I'm back New Orleans and making all the rounds

Searching for the girl I left down on the neutral ground, yeah, yeah, yeah

Every night's a party here; every day it rains

And weeks and months stretch longer than the bridge 'cross Pontchartrain

I walk my feet on narrow streets that wind their way downtown

Where saints and sinners chance to meet upon the neutral ground

Where saints and sinners chance to meet upon the neutral ground

Upon the neutral ground