Me and 'Ol Buck were tear'n it up at club down in New Orleans

When it was over we got half loaded and picked up a couple of queens

We hit every high spot in that town and a couple that were kinda low

We were at one spot down there on the bottom when the law came through the door

Well they took us and they booked us at the country jail and Lord what a sight to see

They had Tennessee pickers and bourbon streets strippers and a murder in the first degree

They took 'fore the judge bright and early next morn'in he was a swinger right to the end

He said, I'll tell ya son just like it is and you can tell it to your skinny friend

Chorus: Don'tcha be mess'in with big John Law son it just ain't the thing to do

If ya don't mess with big John Law, then he ain't gonna mess with you

Don'tcha go and give me no innocent plea 'cause I know it didn't happen that'a way

If you and your friend had been innocent then, you'd be out on the street today....

Well he read us up one side and then down the other, quoted law 'til he turned blue

He said some big long words that I'd never heard, but some four letter words I knew

That'll be a hundred dollars and get out of Louisiana and I never wanta see you again

But before ya go I'll tell ya once more and you can tell it to your skinny friend

Repeat Chorus: