"La Vieux Vals An' Onc Mack" - Thibodeaux Boys

Most of what people know about Joe Werner comes from his recording career however, even in his earliest years, he was always an entertainer.   He began playing the harmonica as a small boy after receiving one as a Christmas gift.   

In school, he turned his attention to the stage.  His earliest attempt at minstrel shows was in 1928 during a school play.  He participated in the production "Help Yourself" which took place at the Crowley Opera House.   In the performance, he participated in "negro conversations" portrayed as "Alimony Brown". According to the newspaper, "the choruses were well trained and rendered dainty dances and songs througout the production".1 By the summer of 1928, he was performing on the Legion Blackface Show as a clerk of court in the skit called "Eliza Rosewater's Divorce Case".2 

Rayne Tribune
Apr 1, 1932

J'vas demander à ton père, 

J'vas demander à ta mère,

Pour laisser te voir chère,

Et pour venir avec moi, 

Moi je m'en vas aujourd'hui,

Toi, tu vas venir avec moi, joli cœur. 

Si tu viens pas avec moi, mais,

Comment-donc t(u)i crois,

Moi, j'vas faire, chérie,

À la maison, moi tout seul, je peux finir mes vieux jours, (avec) tou(te)s,

Jolie les petits filles que moi, j'aime tant.

Si t(u)i viens pas avec moi, 

Comment-donc tu crois moi j'vas faire. Jolie! 

À la maison, moi tout seul, j'vais finir mes vieux jours (avec) tou(te)s,

Jolie les petit(e)s filles que moi, j'aime tant, chère!

By 1935, he continued amazing audiences of his multiple talents until he joined up with the Hackberry Ramblers and then the Thibodeaux Boys in 1938 recording the tune "La Vieux Vals An Onc Mack" (#2038).  It was likely an ode to his father, known as Uncle Max Werner, who had immigrated from Suhl, Thüringen, Deutschland (Germany) in the 1880s.   Max served in the Spanish American war before settling near Rayne where he raised his children.  

Rayne Tribune
Sep 28, 1934

I'm going to ask your father,

I'm going to ask your mother,

To let me see you, dear,

And to come with me,

I'm leaving today,

You're going to come with me, pretty sweetheart.

If you don't come with me, well,

How do you think,

I'm going to handle it, darling?

At home, all by myself, I can finish my last days, (with) all the,

Pretty little girls that I love so much.

If you don't come with me,

How do you think I'm going to handle it? Pretty!

At home, all by myself, I'm going to finish my last days, (with) all the,

Pretty little girls that I love so much, dear!

1. "School Play Is Big Success" RT 4-14-1928
2. "Work Complete On Legion Blackface Show" RT 8-4-1928
3. RT.  6-7-1929
4. Lost Rayne By Tony Olinger
5. Lyrics by Stephane F

Find:
Raise Your Window: A Cajun Music Anthology 1928 - 1941 (The Historic Victor-Bluebird Sessions Vol. 2) (CMF, 1993)

Cajun Country, Vol. 2, More Hits from the Swamp (JSP, 2005)