"Chere Eci Et Cher Laba" - Lee Sonnier

"Sweetie Here And Sweetie There".  J.D. Miller had recently left a recording session at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans and decided to build his own around 1948.  Logically, perhaps, the first person to be recorded at the new studio was Miller's father-in-law, a highly respected accordionist, Lee Sonnier.  Born near Rayne, he had no musical training but was from a musical family.  Lee was a welder by trade working up to an through WWII in defense plants.  After the war he opened his own welding business.  J.D. Miller married the youngest of this three daughters.1 

Quand ton nègre avec toi,

C'est "chère ici, chère là bas",

Quand ton nègre n'il ya à coté,

Toi tu fais trop la canaille,

...

'Gardez-donc, malheureuse,

Pour pas bien ton vieux nègre,

Tu vas voir pour toi même,

Petite, tu vas faire pitié,

...

Criminelle, petite,

Pour faire bien, malheureuse,

Tu vas voir, mignonne,

Ah, je mérite pas ça,

...

Daily Advertiser
Apr 25, 1952

In  J.D Miller's new studio in Crowley, they recorded an old traditional melody, first recorded Amede Ardoin as "Eunice Two Step" in 1929 and later in 1934 by Joe Falcon as "Vous Etes Si Doux".  Joe and Lee played together in the same dance-halls after the war, giving way to Lee's version which he called "Chere Eci Et Cher Laba" (#1010).   Miller brought in fiddler and vocalist Aldus "Popeye" Broussard to sing the tune.  Aldus was already well known fiddler who previously played with Norris Mire and Happy Fats throughout the 30s and 40s. The phrase "c'est un chere ici, cher la-bas" has an underlying meaning.  It's a Cajun idiom used to describe a couple who make a show of affection in public, but who fight frequently in private.  

When your man's with you,

It's "dearie here, dearie there",

When your man's not around,

You act too mischievous,

...

So look, miserable one,

It's hasn't been good for your old man,

You will see for yourself,

Little girl, you'll be pitiful,

...

Naughty, little girl,

It's been good, miserable one,

You will see, cutie, 

Ah, I don't deserve all of this,

...

Lee Sonnier

The labels showed the difficulty of getting Cajun spellings printed accurately away from home.  "Chere Eci Et Cher Laba" reflect it no less obviously than the artist credits to Lee "Snownier".1  Sonnier's lyrics would have little to do with "Eunice Two Step", a melody in which he borrowed from black Creole accordionist Amede Ardoin.   Later, Iry Lejeune would also take it and turn it into his "Jolie Catin". Lee carried on playing in south Louisiana clubs in to the 1950s.1  

1. Fais Do Do Breakdown - Volume One - The Late 1940's (Flyright, 1986).   Liner notes.
2. Lyrics by Stephane F

Release Info:

La Blues De Cajin | Fais Do Do F-1010-A

Chere Eci Et Chere Laba | Fais Do Do F-1010-B

Find:
Fais Do Do Breakdown - Volume One - The Late 1940's (Flyright, 1986)

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