How to Dress a Po’ Boy

words and music by Johnette Downing
© 2010 Johnette Downing, Wiggle Worm Records, ASCAP
administered by Concord Music Publishing

Johnette Downing, the “Pied Piper of Louisiana Music Traditions,” shares this original song dedicated to a sandwich. Johnette is a multi-award-winning musician, singer, and author whose presentations are thoroughly engaging. She explains “How to Dress a Po’ Boy” as follows:

“In New Orleans, when you order a po’ boy sandwich, you will be asked if you want it ‘dressed.’ The chef is not asking you if you want to put pajamas on the sandwich, he or she is asking you if you want it prepared with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and mayonnaise. A former early childhood music educator, I wrote this song and book to teach children, step by step, how to create this classic meal. Just don’t say you want your po’ boy undressed; that’s just silly. The book, which includes the history of po’ boys, is published by Pelican Publishing Company.”