"Tant Que Tu Est Avec Moi" - Jolly Boys of Lafayette

The Jolly Boys got their start in 1937 with their only recording session with Decca.  Joe Fabacher led his group during the late 1930s through the 1950s. It included his brother Red and Leon "Crip" Credeur".  Francis "Red" Fabacher was a brilliant guitar player.  By 1940, Red was playing radio shows on KVOL along with Nason Guidry and the Sons Of Acadians.  However, soon after, he was drafted into WWII.

(Moi) tout seul dans la peine,

Moi tout seul, chère 'tit monde,

Mérite pas ça, ça t'as fais, 

Mais, ça t'as fais, jolie.

Quand ton nègre est avec toi,

C'est "chère" ici et "chère" là bas,

Mais, quand ton nègre est-z-à-coté,

T'as bien prié ton pauvre vieux nègre.

Crowley Daily Signal
Sept 7, 1950

The song was their version of Amede Ardoin's "Eunice Two Step".  It spawned other post-war versions such as Virgil Bozman's "Tell Me If You Love Me" and Lee Sonnier's "Chere Ici Et Chere La-Ba". The phrase chère ici et chère là bas eludes to a lover's quarrel, where in the love interest acts differently when her man is at her side versus when he's away.

(I'm) all alone in pain,

I'm all alone, dear little everything,

Don't deserve that, that you've done,

Well, that you've done, pretty.

When your man is with you,

It's "dearie" here and "dearie" there,

Well, when your man alone by your side,

You had better pray for your poor old man.

While Red got his start playing Cajun swing music, he also was adept to playing country and rock in the later years. By the time he got out of the service, he had joined Harry Choates band, playing full rhythm guitar and occasionally filling in for Happy Fats.

1. Lyrics by Stephane F

Release Info:
61914-A Tant Que Tu Est Avec Moi (As Long As You're With Me) | Decca 17036 A
61915-A High Society | Decca 17036 B

Find: 
Cajun: Rare & Authentic (JSP, 2008)