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Song: Royal Orleans
Album: Presence [released Mar 31, 1976 (US) | Apr 5, 1976 (UK)]
Single: Candy Store Rock/Royal Orleans [Jun 18, 1976]
Credited to: Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Robert Plant
Related Songs:
Cissy Strut - The Meters (music)
Chicken Strut - The Meters (music)


Lyrics:

One-time luck, a-take care how you use it
A-try to make it last all night
And if you take your pick, be careful how you choose it
Sometimes it's hard to feel it bite, feel it bite

A man I know went down to Louisiana
Had himself a bad, bad fight
And when the sun peeks through, John Cameron will see Santa
And kiss the whiskers left and right, whiskers

Now, now, now, a fight subsides out at a hotel in the Quarter
Our friendship took a bash tonight
Now, love gets hot, look far for a sea with water
Growin' whiskers in there through the night

(Guitar Solo)

Whiskers

Down on Bourbon Street, you know it's right
You'll be seein' my friends
When they run around all through the night
Most everywhere, 'till that closet's bare
Want for the razor, fun doin' up my hair

New Orleans queens sure know how to shmooze it
Maybe for some that seems alright
When I step out and strut down with my sugar
She better not talk like Barry White

Now, one-time luck, take care how you use it
Try to make it last all night
And if you take your pick, be careful how you choose it
Sometimes it's hard to feel it bite


Influences: It has been said that this song was inspired [musically] by the funky New Orleans rock band known as The Meters. Specifically, either the song Chicken Strut or perhaps Cissy Strut (there seems to be some uncertainty between the two).