There are nonsense songs in Cajun music and some happy drinking songs in Cajun music though most of the songs are about tragedy and love lost. Dennis McGee along with Ernest Fruge performed a few numbers with happy lyrics like "Allons a Tassone" and "Adieu Rosa" but most of his tunes are sad and lonely. The melodies sound happy and lilting but the words are quite depressing, like the "One Step de Chupic" (#15851).2
La-la-la-lah-la-da-la-la-doh-la,
La-la-la-la-la-da-la-da-la-da,
'Gardez-donc, la belle,Elle est après s'en aller.La-la-la-la, t'ai pas ave(c)'moi,Va pas changer avec un autre qu'est loin,Malheureuse, j'ai dit, mais, 'gardez-donc la belle.La-la-la-la-la-da-doh-da-doh,La-la-la-la-la-da-doh-da-doh,La-da-doh-da-doh-doh-loh-de-doh.Doh-de-la-doh 'gardez-donc la belle,Elle est après s'en aller avec un autre que moi,Mais, malheureuse chérie, mais, fais pas donc, la belle,'Garde-donc, chérie.Aye yé yaille, comment j'vas faire,Toujours mon t'seul comme une pauvre malheureuse,Mais, chère que tout, mais, fais pas ça avec moi,Malheureuse, la belle.
Recorded in New Orleans in the fall of 1929, Dennis put together a sorrowful story against a cheerful melody, interjected with lyric less chorus lines singing "la-la-la-la". This style of singing could be used to evoke emotions or even memories in listeners that couldn't be put into words or ones that weren't terribly specific. It allows the listener's mind to wander where it will, guided by the singer, but not forced into a specific narrative. In the lyrical portions, the lover tells his love interest to "Watch it!" because of the mistakes she's making.
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| Choupique fish |
It's quite possible that this is a story of a lost lover from his home town of Choupique, Louisiana; a community named after local fish variety (the bow fin). Dennis explains the name growing up in the community:
I was raised in Choupique. I lived there from the age of four until I was fourteen years old. When you go to Chataignier, you cross a little stream called La Coulee Choupique. There were many choupiques in that time. An some big ones! They were three feet long! I caught many on my line when I was young.1
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| Dennis McGee |
La-la-la-lah-la-da-la-la-doh-la,
La-la-la-la-la-da-la-da-la-da,
So look, the beauty,She's leaving.La-la-la-la, you ain't with me,Nothing will change with another that is far away,Miserable one, I said, well, watch it, beautiful one.La-la-la-la-la-da-doh-da-doh,La-la-la-la-la-da-doh-da-doh,La-da-doh-da-doh-doh-loh-de-doh.Doh-de-la-doh so look, the beauty,She's leaving with someone other than me,Well, miserable dearie, well, don't do it, beautiful one,Watch it, dearie.Aye yé yaille, how will I handle this,I'm always alone, like a poor wretch,Well, dear, all that, well, don't do that with me,Miserable beauty.
- Ye Yaille Chere by Raymond Francois
- Dennis McGee – The Complete Early Recordings. Liner notes.
- Lyrics by Stephane F and Smith S
Release Info:
NO-236 Valse Du La Penitencier | Vocalion 15851
NO-237 One Step De Chupic | Vocalion 15851
Find:
Cajun Capers: Cajun Music 1928-1954 (Proper, 2005)
Dennis McGee – The Complete Early Recordings (Yazoo, 2006)
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