I went down to Rita's to get myself a drink
To sit up in that old French Quarter trying not to think
About that girl who left me, way up in old Chi-town
About that girl who left me in a gutter way downtown

The waitress, she's a sweet one
With hair as dark as night
She always gets me through my day
And makes me feel alright
There's no place like Rita's
Down on old Royale
No place like that old French Quarter
I know so well...

I went down to Rita's to get myself a drink
To sit up in that old French Quarter trying not to think
About that girl who left me, way up in old Chi-town
About that girl who left me in a gutter way downtown

All I know
is that old Southern smell
thunder on the pavement
and broken hearts that dwell
On barstool after barstool
forever on the years
People change but all I see
is whiskey through my tears...

I went down to Rita's to get myself a drink
To sit up in that old French Quarter trying not to think
About that girl who left me, way up in old Chi-town
About that girl who left me in a gutter way downtown