"Soldiers Waltz" - Charlie Broussard

Houston provided some of the earliest independent recording producers in the south after WWII, including country western guitarist Bennie Hess.  In addition to Hess' own band, he ventured out and added several Cajun artists to his fledgling Opera label.   He would be instrumental in forging the music career of Iry Lejeune by inviting him to a recording session in 1948.  He would later press several tunes for his Cajun fiddler, Floyd Leblanc.  Charles Broussard, who at the time was playing with Eddie Shuler's Reveliers around 1945, seemed like a good fit for the label.

Quand j'étais à la guerre,

Pour me battre pour mon pays,

Tu m'as promis de m'espérer,

Jusqu'au jour d'aujourd'hui,

Mais asteure j'ai revenir,

J'ai des larmes dans mes yeux,

Et toi, avec un autre,

Qui casse mon coeur en deux.

Quand j'étais sur la bataille,

Pourrais t’avoir pour ma vie,

Te regardant, ouais, 

Z-à toi, chère petite fille,

Mais, asteur, je suis revenu,

Ma vie est gaspillée,

Et toi, avec un autre, chérie,

Qui casse mon cœur en deux.

Charles Broussard

Following World War II, Charles’ sons, Carrol and C. J., were learning the steel guitar and drums, and the youngest, Arnold, played piano, so Charles formed the Sulphur Playboys. The band was adept at many styles and played a mixture of Cajun, country, and hoedown music for dancers and listeners around southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas.1  "Soldier's Waltz" (#109), like "War Widow Waltz", became one of the few Cajun tunes which spoke of the hardships of World War II.   Broussard (spelled as "Brussard") borrowed a popular melody that eventually became popularly known as Doc Guidry's "Le Valse de Te Maurice".  He was backed by Billy Christian on guitar, Carrol Broussard on steel guitar, and C. J. Broussard on drums.

When I was at war,

To fight for my country,

You made me a hopeful promise,

Until the day of today,

Well, right now, I've come back,

I have tears in my eyes,

And you, with another, dear,

That breaks my heart in two. 

When I was in battle,

(Thinking I) could have you forever,

To look at you, yeah,

At you, dear little girl,

Well, right now, I've come back,

My life is wasted,

And you, with another, dearie,

That breaks my heart in two.

Baytown Sun
Jun 30, 1950

Charles played with Eddie Shuler and his All Star Reveliers and Cliff Bruner and the Wanderers in the 1950s. He eventually played on television at KPLC and KTAG, as well as on KIKS radio for the Sulphur Hour radio show. Around 1951 Charles showed his versatility by playing hoedowns for a local square dance club.1

Carrol Broussard, Billy Christian,
Charles Broussard, C. J. Broussard,
Homer Goodrich, Jack Granger
1947
Courtesy of Cajun Dancehall Heyday1

1. Cajun Dancehall Heyday by Ron Yule
2. Lyrics by Stephane F and Jordy A

Release Info:

638 Soldiers Waltz | Opera 109-A

639 Sulphur Breakdown | Opera 109-B