"The Waltz That Carried Me To My Grave" - Pee Wee Broussard

Chester Issac "Pee Wee" Broussard was one of many accordion players in the 1950s who recorded songs in south Louisiana.  Here, he covers Cleoma Breaux classic known as "The Waltz That Carried Me To The Grave" (#1045) during his very first recording session for J.D. Miller's Feature Records in Crowley, Louisiana in 1952.   The song was a tribute to his wife who had recently died.

Hey, mais toi 'tite fille, chère,

Toi t'as quitté de la maison pour t'en aller,

Je peux pas te voir, je vas pas te voir,

Comment tu crois moi je peux faire, mais, moi tout seul?

Hey, moi j'ai pleuré chère,

De te voir t'en aller, mais pour toujours,

Comment tu crois, mais, moi j'vas faire?

J'ai p'us personne à la maison mais pour m'aimer.

Jessie Credeur, Do Doon Benoit,
Pee Wee Broussard, Tony Thibodeaux,
Johnny Credeur

During this recording session, his Melody Boys consisted of Jean "Kaiser" Perez on fiddle, Walter Guidry on steel guitar, Andy Johnson on rhythm guitar, and Nathan Latiolais on drums.

Hey, you see, little girl, dear,

For you left the house, you went away.

I didn't see you, I'm not going to see you anymore,

How do you think I'll do this, well, all by myself?

Hey, I cried, dear,

I've seen you leave, well, everyday,

How do you think, well, I will do this?

I have no one left at home, well, to love me.

He influenced and worked with many musicians later including Leroy Broussard and Marc Savoy.  You can hear a lot of his style in Marc's early recordings.  Pee Wee not only played accordion, but also the fiddle.  During his early life, he cut the tendon on his left middle finger by a knife wielded by his brother, so every time he played fiddle, it seemed he was always flipping people the bird. 

1. Acadian Two Step.  Flyright.  Liner Notes.

Find:

Acadian Two Step (Flyright, 1987)

Acadian All Star Special - The Pioneering Cajun Recordings Of J.D. Miller (Bear, 2011)