"La Valse Du Mariage" - Guidry Brothers

When early Cajun music artists are discussed, rarely does the location of St. Martin parish come to mind.  However, it would take an obscure group from the Anse La Butte area to record one of the more amiable marriage songs in the Cajun bayou.  Shelton Devillier, grandson of Dosete Guidry, remembered asking his grandfather the name of their band. Dosete replied, “Guidry Brothers!”  All of the brothers in the Guidry band played multiple instruments. Shelton, stated, 

Dosete loved the violin. That was his favorite. He played the accordion. He played the mandolin.1 

C'est dans un petit village, j'ai rencontré une jolie brune,

J'ai commencé lui faire l'amour, elle m'a montré ses amitiés,

J'ai aussi parlé du mariage, elle m'a donné-z un contentements,

Cela m'a mis beaucoup content et remplit mon cœur de joie.

(yodel)

Chere amie, si t'es pareille, on va aller dedans l’église,

Se présenter devant l'autel et le prêtre nous mariera,

Le contrat sera passé, et le billet se signera,

Et ton cœur sera pour moi et mon cœur sera pour toi.

(yodel)

Arthur Guidry, Dosete Guidry, Isidore Guidry

Something wonderfully unique is their recording of "La Valse du Mariage" (#15864), an alternate take on a Cajun wedding march. Different from the more popular "La Marche de Mariés", it speaks of the joy of meeting a pretty girl and wishing to get married at the altar.  Unlike many Cajun songs that discuss the fears of leaving behind the single life, the Guidrys sing of a lover excited to marry his longtime love interest.  According to record producer Christopher King,

I like the marriage waltz. If I could travel back to the 1880s in southwest Louisiana, I could imagine having heard this at a common plantation wedding.1   

In a little village, I met a pretty brunette,

I started flirting, she shared with me her friendship,

I also talked about marriage, she gave me a commitment,

It made me very happy and filled my heart with joy.

(yodel)

Dear friend, if you'd like, we'll go inside the church,

Go to the altar and the priest will marry us,

The contract will be passed (around), and the record will be signed,

And your heart will be for me and my heart will be for you.

(yodel)

1. "Breaux Bridge At Center of 90-Year-Old Cajun Music Mystery".  Wade Falcon.  Teche News.  2019. 
2. Lyrics by Stephane F and Jordy A

Release Info:

NO-242 Le Garcon Chez Son Pere | Vocalion 15854

NO-243 La Valse Du Mariage | Vocalion 15854

Find:

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