Louisiana, the Pelican State, is part of the Deep South. With iconic landmarks, famous cities, and a captivating history, it’s inspired many musicians to pen singles about the state.
Here are some top songs about Louisiana.
1. “House Of The Rising Sun” by The Animals
Song Year: 1964
One of the best songs about Louisiana is “House Of The Rising Sun” by the English rock band The Animals. It’s from their self-titled debut album.
The blues and rock song shares the story of a brothel in New Orleans, Louisiana that causes destruction to all who visit. The brothel got its name from one of the ladies working there, Madame Marianne LeSoleil Levant, meaning “rising sun” in French.
2. “Down At The Twist And Shout” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Song Year: 1990
“Down At The Twist And Shout” by Mary Chapin Carpenter is a country party songs about Louisiana.
In “Down At The Twist And Shout,” Mary Chapin Carpenter shares her desire to go to Louisiana, eat Southern foods, dance to Cajun beats, and gather together for hurricane parties.
3. “Royal Orleans” by Led Zeppelin
Song Year: 1976
Despite being from England, Led Zeppelin has a Louisiana related song on their seventh album, Presence.
“Royal Orleans” is a rock song about a man who visits Louisiana and gets himself into trouble. This song showcases some of the neighborhoods in New Orleans, including the French Quarter and Bourbon Street.
4. “Callin’ Baton Rouge” by Garth Brooks
Song Year: 1993
Garth Brooks released country song “Callin’ Baton Rouge” in 1993.
Baton Rouge is the capital of Louisiana, and in this song, Brooks sings about being a traveling musician who falls in love with a woman in Baton Rouge before moving to another town. Though he’s in another town, he’s asking the operator to connect him to a girl in Louisiana so they can have one more conversation.
5. “Walking to New Orleans” by Fats Domino
Song Year: 1960
Fats Domino performed one of the most exceptional R&B songs about Louisiana, written by Bobby Charles, “Walking to New Orleans.”
Fats Domino’s iconic voice pays homage to Louisiana with this song about skipping town after getting your heart broken. With a slow, rhythmic beat that sounds like shoes hitting the pavement, “Walking to New Orleans” pairs lyrics and background instrumentals to create a unified sound worth adding to a playlist.
6. “Queen Of New Orleans” by Jon Bon Jovi
Song Year: 1997
Jon Bon Jovi shares this story of how he fell in love with a girl from New Orleans in his song “Queen Of New Orleans” on the album, Destination Anywhere.
In this rock song, Jovi sings his thoughts about dancing with an exceptional woman after the relationship ends. He reminisces about how good he had it with the “Queen Of New Orleans” now that the love is gone.
7. “Louisiana Saturday Night” by Mel McDaniel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yljf4Lpj7CI
Song Year: 1980
Mel McDaniel describes the ideal Saturday night activities in the country song “Louisiana Saturday Night.”
This is one of the best songs about Louisiana that highlights the feel-good sensation of dancing in the kitchen, hanging out with friends on the front porch, and going to bed with a woman you love.
8. “Louisiana Rain” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Song Year: 1979
Tom Petty’s iconic voice shares how the Pelican State offers itself as a refuge and a place where people can seek a change in the song “Louisiana Rain.”
This slow rock song from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ third album, Damn the Torpedoes, tells of how rain showers in Louisiana can wash away the pain accumulated over the years.
9. “Louisiana Moon” by Alabama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTmoHGIq1Fc
Song Year: 1985
“Louisiana Moon” by the American country band Alabama is an exceptional song for any Louisiana-themed playlist.
This song shares a story of a man who falls in love with a girl named Betty. Unfortunately, Betty’s father disapproves of the relationship. Instead of calling it quits, the man visits Betty under the cover of the night with the moon as the only witness.
10. “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” by Hank Williams
Song Year: 1952
Jambalaya is a classic dish in Louisiana, and Hank Williams pays tribute to this and other classic Louisiana meals in the song “Jambalaya (On the Bayou).”
Williams wrote this country song after getting inspired by hearing Cajuns talking about their favorite foods, including jambalaya, crawfish pie, and gumbo.
11. “Louisiana Man” by Lucinda Williams
Song Year: 1980
Lucinda Williams released one of the best songs about Louisiana men on her album Happy Woman Blues.
“Louisiana Man” by Lucinda Williams is a country-folk song that tells the story of a woman falling in love with a cowboy in Louisiana. Though the two get separated while Williams travels, she keeps her “Louisiana Man” on her mind.
12. “Louisiana 1927” by Randy Newman
Song Year: 1974
Randy Newman recounts history with his musical tale about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 in his song “Louisiana 1927.”
The song references the streets of Evangeline, Louisiana flooding. The chorus uses the flood as a metaphor for washing away culture from the people who call Louisiana home.
13. “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” by Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty
Song Year: 1973
“Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” is a country duet by Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn and is a fantastic addition to any Louisiana-themed playlist.
This love song is about a man from Mississippi and a woman from Louisiana. The two sing about how the Mississippi River separates them, but their love is bigger than the widest river in the United States.
14. “Down Louisiana Way” by George Strait
Song Year: 1994
George Strait sings one of the best songs about Louisiana in the country song “Down Louisiana Way” from his album Lead On.
In this slow and rhythmic song, Strait shares his decision to return to Louisiana. Though he’ll miss his friends in Chicago, San Francisco, and LA, Strait believes he’ll find his true love in the Pelican State.
15. “Louisiana Hot Sauce” by Sammy Kershaw
Song Year: 1999
Sammy Kershaw grew up in Kaplan, Louisiana, and represents his home state in the country song “Louisiana Hot Sauce.”
In this upbeat country tune, Kershaw sings about falling in love with a spicy woman from Louisiana, backed by instrumentals like piano, harmonica solos, and horned instruments.
16. “New Orleans Ladies” by LeRoux
Song Year: 1978
LeRoux is a Southern rock and pop-rock band hailing from Louisiana that pays tribute to the beautiful women in the Pelican State with their song “New Orleans Ladies.”
This song highlights characteristics of women from New Orleans, like being sassy, lazy like the Mississippi River, and having a flair for life.
17. “Dark Lady” by Cher
Song Year: 1974
Cher released one of the best songs about Louisiana, “Dark Lady,” on her album of the same name.
This song tells the story of a fortune teller from New Orleans who tells a woman that her lover has been cheating on her. It turns out that the fortune teller knows of the infidelity because she is the other woman.
18. “Louisiana: Give Me Louisiana” by The Royal Pendeltons
Song Year: 1998
The Royal Pendeltons started as a garage band in Louisiana and released one of the best songs about Louisiana on their album, Coolidge 50.
“Louisiana: Give Me Louisiana” is a blues and folk song that shares aspects of the Pelican State that make Louisiana feel like home. From sweet magnolias to Creole melodies, this song is a must-listen-to if you feel nostalgic for Louisiana.
19. “In The Clear” by Foo Fighters
Song Year: 2014
“In The Clear” by Foo Fighters featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band describes the resilience of residents after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The Foo Fighters recorded “In The Clear” at the Preservation Hall in New Orleans for their eighth album Sonic Highways.
20. “Witch Queen of New Orleans” by Redbone
Song Year: 1971
The rock band Redbone has one of the best songs about Louisiana that highlights one of New Orleans’s most famous residents, Marie Catherine Laveau.
Marie Laveau was a voodoo practitioner, giving her the title of the “Witch Queen of New Orleans.” This song shares local myths and stories about Laveau, including that she got possessed by the devil and lived in a mudbrick shack by a swamp.
21. “Bourbon Street” by Little River Band
Song Year: 1976
“Bourbon Street” by Little River Band shares a darker side of the Pelican State.
In this rock song, Little River Band tells the story of the hardships of a struggling rock and roll musician who can’t pay his rent. To alleviate his sadness, he heads down to the bars on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
22. “Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” by Louis Armstrong
Song Year: 1947
“Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?” by Louis Armstrong is one of the best jazz songs about Louisiana, produced for the 1947 movie New Orleans.
This song features Armstrong’s iconic growly voice complimented by his world-renowned trumpeting skills. The lyrics share the feeling of missing a place and a person simultaneously.
23. “Apache Rose Peacock” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Song Year: 1991
“Apache Rose Peacock” by the indie-rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers is one of the best rock songs about Louisiana.
This song features funky guitar riffs that give the Peppers their unique sound, while the lead singer Anthony Kiedis sings about the interesting happenings that take place while walking down the streets of New Orleans.
24. “Louisiana Melody” by David Ball
Song Year: 2004
Country singer David Bell features a catchy tune about Louisiana on his album Freewheeler titled “Louisiana Melody.”
This song uses the metaphor of a melody stuck in your head to describe the feeling of being in love with someone who lives far away.
25. “Marie Laveau” by Bobby Bare
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBt845vjzq0
Song Year: 1973
Bobby Bare pays homage to the New Orleans voodoo queen Marie Laveau on his album Lullabys, Legends, and Lies.
“Marie Laveau” is a country song that shares myths and legends of Marie Catherine Laveau, including her knack for making men disappear when they mistreat her.
26. “Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” by The Oak Ridge Boys
Song Year: 1979
“Leaving Louisiana in the Broad Daylight” by The Oak Ridge Boys is a country song about a girl named Mary who falls in love with a vagabond and wants to join him on his adventures.
Despite Mary’s mother’s discouragement, she wants to leave Louisiana with her man because the love feels right, and she doesn’t need to hide it by sneaking away after dark.
27. “Hurricane” by Band of Heathens
Song Year: 2011
“Hurricane” by Band of Heathens is among the best songs about Louisiana hurricanes.
This country song shares the thoughts of an elderly fellow from the French Quarter who’s lived through many hurricane seasons. While people from other states are worried about the heavy rains, as a local, the old man knows hurricane season better than anyone and doesn’t fear the weather.
28. “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Song Year: 1968
“Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a popular songs from their album Bayou Country.
This song features a catchy chorus that everyone can sing along to about riding down the Mississippi River to New Orleans.
29. “The Cajun Queen” by Jimmy Dean
Song Year: 1962
“The Cajun Queen” by Jimmy Dean is one of the best songs about Louisiana that shares the story of a woman called Queenie from New Orleans who rescues her lover from the bottom of a mine.
Though the miner has blue lips, Queenie kisses him and brings him back to life so the two of them can live into their old age together and know their 110 grandchildren.
30. “Ain’t No Place to Pee on Mardi Gras Day” by Benny Grunch & The Bunch
Song Year: 2020
“Ain’t No Place to Pee on Mardi Gras Day” by Benny Grunch & The Bunch is a silly, feel-good song about going out in New Orleans and partying on Mardi Gras.
As the title suggests, this song is about drinking too much and needing to find a bathroom, only to find that there is nowhere to go.
31. “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” by Jimmy Buffett
Song Year: 2006
Jimmy Buffet released one of the most beautiful songs about Louisiana with the slow country tune “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”
This song about moving on tells the story of a man who visits Louisiana and buys a watch from a man along Lake Pontchartrain. However, the watch has no hands or numbers on its face. Instead, it simply always says “now,” just like the warranty on the watch reads “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”
Top Songs About Louisiana, Final Thoughts
Louisiana is famous for southern hospitality, delicious foods, and well-known musicians. Luckily, listeners can transport themselves to the Pelican State by putting on their headphones or stereo and playing some of the top songs about Louisiana.
Add these great songs about Louisiana to your next playlist and revel in the sounds and artistry of musicians paying tribute to the Pelican State.