"Walfus Two Step" - Chuck Guillory & Milton Molitor

Chuck Guillory's group became the backup band for several Cajun musicians after the war.   Primarily a country string band, he helped headline Jimmy Newman, Al Terry, Papa Cairo, and Milton Molitor.  Recorded in Crowley at the J.D. Miller studio, Milton sang the tune "Walfus Two Step" for Miller's Feature label.  Wafus (misspelled Walfus) is named after the Wafus Club dance hall in Oakdale, Louisiana.

While the exact origins of the name "Wafus" is unknown, rumor states it's named after Walter Roy "Pete" Fuselier, a native of Kinder, LA in Allen Parish.  He grew up not far from the town of Oakdale--the town's name Chuck used on the flip-side of his recording and near the home of Molitor.  According to author Lyle Ferbrache:

Milton Molitor lived on a farm between Mamou and Oakdale and was close enough to have played at both clubs.1

Eh, chérie, depuis la première fois,

Eh, 'tit monde, j't'avais vu ma chère bébé.

Eh, bébé, depuis la première fois,

Eh, j't'ai vu, j'avais vu tes grands nœilnœils,

Eh, si capoté sur le bord, p’tit monde,

Eh, je m’ai rentourné à ma maison j’t’avait dit t’aurais eu.

Eh petite, je connaissait qu’y aurait eu,

Pour l’agrément, bébé, t’es partie pour s’en aller.

Opelousas Daily World
July 18, 1948

Milton's use of "grands nœilnœils" is unique since this is a phrase unusual to Louisiana French. It's similar to the word "canoeils" in Quebec.  A colloquial combination of the word "un œil", it's commonly used in France to refer to someone having "child-like eyes", generally in a cute way.    Afterwards, Milton would join up with Austin Pitre in 1957, giving these songs new life.  This one would later become the "Midway Two Step". 

Hey, dearie, since the very first time,

Hey, my little everything, I've seen my dear baby.

Hey, baby, since the very first time,

Hey, I saw you, I saw your big child-like eyes,

Hey, (I'm) so turned over the edge, my little everything,

Hey, I went back home, I already told you what you had.

Hey, little one, I knew what would would happen,

For fun, baby, you're leaving to go away.

Although the label reads 'Chuck Guillory featuring Milton Molitor on accordion, it's hard to believe that Chuck Guillory is on either side.1  It's quite possible that that the fiddle player is Austin Pitre instead.  Over time, the song title has been jokingly referred to as the "Waffle Two Step" as well as the "Pancake Two Step".2  

1. "Acadian All Star Special" by Bear Records
2. Ye Yaille Chere by Raymond Francois
3. Lyrics by Stephane F and Jordy A

Release Info:
-A Oakdale Waltz | Feature F-1014-A
-B Walfus Two Step | Feature F-1014-B

Find:
Grand Texas (Arhoolie, 1998)

Acadian All Star Special - The Pioneering Cajun Recordings Of J.D. Miller (Bear, 2011)