Released as a single in 1974, “Marie Laveau” became one of the most unforgettable songs of Bobby Bare’s career — and ultimately the only No. 1 country single he ever had. Written by Shel Silverstein and Baxter Taylor, the song had appeared on Bare’s Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends and Lies album before its single release sent it to the top of Billboard’s country chart.
At its heart, “Marie Laveau” is less a traditional love song than a darkly humorous Southern tale. Set in the Louisiana bayou, it introduces a mysterious woman feared for her strange powers and then follows a man named Handsome Jack, who believes he can trick her for money. His plan seems clever — until he makes one mistake he cannot take back.
Bare’s performance is what turns the strange story into something unforgettable. Instead of treating it like a serious supernatural drama, he delivers the lyrics with a relaxed storyteller’s charm. His timing, humor, and unmistakable voice make listeners feel as though they are sitting around listening to an old Louisiana legend being passed from one generation to another.
That storytelling quality was perfectly suited to Bare. Throughout his career, he had an unusual ability to make unusual characters feel alive, and “Marie Laveau” gave him one of the most colorful characters he ever recorded. The song mixes country music with folklore, comedy, suspense, and just enough darkness to keep the listener wondering what will happen next.
When “Marie Laveau” reached No. 1 in July 1974, it gave Bare the only chart-topping country single of his long career.
Decades later, “Marie Laveau” still stands apart from almost everything else in Bobby Bare’s catalog. It proves that country music does not always need heartbreak or romance to tell a memorable story. Sometimes all it takes is a mysterious woman in the Louisiana swamp, one foolish man, and a storyteller like Bobby Bare to make the legend impossible to forget.