"Acadian Two Step" - Amede Breaux

During WWII, Cajun artists such as the Breaux Brothers saw their opportunities to record dwindle and remain stagnant.  Their instrument was seen as old-fashioned once again and it wouldn't be until the late 1940s when jukeboxes began resurrecting the accordion sound across Cajun dancehalls. 

Ton papa et ta maman, quand je vois la galerie. 

Malheureux, moi je vois, mais (...)

A yéyaie, r'garde ici, c'est pour voir ton vieux nègre. 

Ta maman, elle est partie, oui, nous rejoindre, jusqu'à nous autre.

R'garde ici, dans ma maison, hier au soir, tu fais ça,

Quand tu viens chez nous autre, mais, prenez pas, m'en j'moi va.

Hey, petite!

Crowley
Daily Signal
Dec 1949

By 1950s, Amede Breaux's music opportunities seemed to increase.  With the popularity of Nathan Abshire, Aldus Roger and Lawrence Walker bringing the accordion music back on the scene, not only did Amede find an audience with occasional radio shows on KSIG, he garnered the attention of J.D. Miller and his studio in Crowley.  With local backup musicians such as Amos Leger and Sidney Leblanc, Miller recorded Amede performing an old Angelas Lejeune song "Petit Tes Canaigh" entitled "Acadian Two Step" (#1023) around 1951.   It was covered as a string band recording in the 1930s by Leo Soileau as "Attrape Moi, Je Tombe".  While it's possible Miller pulled in popular Crowley artists such as his brother Ophy Breaux on triangle or Happy Fats on bass or either Bradley Stutes or Papa Cairo on steel guitar, however, the personnel are unknown.  

Your dad and your mom, when I saw the porch,

Oh my, I saw you, but, (...)

Aye ye yaille, look here, in order to see your old man,

Your mom, she left, yes, the rest of us to stay together.

Look here, in my house, last night (at) what you've done,

When you came to our house, well, I can't handle that, I'm leaving. 

Hey, little one!

By the mid 50s, other Cajun artists, such as Iry Lejeune, popularized the melody as "Donnez Moi Mon Chapeau".  By the 1960s, Amede's brother-in-law, accordionist Joe Falcon recorded it as "Joe's Breakdown".  

1. Lyrics by Stephane F and Tristan H

Release Info:

Jole Blon | Feature Records F-1023-A

Acadian Two Step | Feature Records F-1023-B

Find:
Acadian All Star Special: The Pioneering Cajun Recordings of J. D. Miller (Bear, 2011)