"La Valse Kim Fe Du Mal (The Waltz That Hurts Me So)" - Lawrence Walker

"Valse Qui M'Fait Du Mal".  Lawrence Walker was both near Duson, Louisiana who joined his father Allen and his brother Joseph Elton to record traditional fiddle tunes between 1928 and 1932 as the Walker Brothers Band. By mid-1930s, young Lawrence has learned to play the accordion. While other accordion bands were beginning to give way to more popular string bands, Lawrence continued to perform and record, adapting his music to include popular American tunes.

Oh, 'tit monde, moi je me tarde de me voir,

M'en aller z'à la maison, y a p(l)us personne pour me recevoir,

Hé Jolie, tu connais j'prends ça dur, 

Petite, prends ça dur, cher 'tit coeur, j'peux p'us pleurer.

Oh, 'tit monde, comment j'vas faire z'ave(c) ça, 

Petite, tu connais, moi j'veux plus t'oublier, 

Oh, 'tit monde, j'ai que(l)que chose pour te dire, 

Petite, tu connais, ça fait du mal juste à jongler. 

Crowley Daily Signal
June 3, 1950

Even the Walker accordion finally succumbed to the flood of string bands during the late 1930s and early 40s. He returned, however, along with Nathan Abshire, Austin Pitre, and others, after World War II to take his place in the Cajun music revival. In the 1950s, Walker became an immensely popular band leader, bringing outstanding musicians like Dick Richard, Ulysse Joseph "U.J" Meaux, and Lionel Leleux into his Wandering Aces band. Together, with Mitch David on fiddle (and possibly vocals), possibly Valmont "Junior" Benoit on steel guitar, and either Simon Shexnaider or Lawrence Trahan on drums,in 1950, the young group recorded "La Valse Kim Fe Du Mal (The Waltz That Hurts Me So)" with George Khoury on his new label. (#606). His smooth accordion style and original compositions in traditional and contemporary styles made Walker a favorite among dancers throughout South Louisiana and into the Golden Triangle of Southeast Texas.  

Oh, my little everything, I long to see,

Myself going home, there is no one to greet me,

Hey Jolie, you know I take this hard,

Little one, I take it hard, dear little sweetheart, I can't cry anymore.

Oh, my little everything, how will I deal with that?

Little one, you know, I don't want to forget you anymore,

Oh, my little everything, I have something to tell you,

Little one, you know, that makes me feel bad just thinking about it.

His many fans invariably describe him as perhaps the best accordion player and singer in Cajun music. Yet, his popularity seems to have remained in the dance halls and in the memory of the crowds who were lucky enough to have heard him perform.

1. http://www.flattownmusic.com/Lawrence-Walker.aspx.  Brief History by Dr. Barry Ancelet
2. Lyrics by Stephane F and Bryan L

Find:
A Legend At Last (Swallow, 1983)