"Homme Abondonne" - Guidry Brothers

In 1929, the sound of south Louisiana was taking shape. Cajun music was getting a foothold in the recording industry; getting discovered outside of south Louisiana for the very first time. By October, three brothers arrived in New Orleans for a recording session alongside some of the more well-known Cajun musicians of the time. Composed of an accordion player, fiddler and guitarist, the family trio waxed six songs for the major recording label Vocalion Records. Some of their melodies, the first to be found on commercial recordings, can be recognized as familiar tunes we hear today. But as quickly as they were discovered, they faded away.1

They were known as the Guidry Brothers of St. Martin Parish and for most people, their music and identities were almost lost to time.  The three musicians – Arthur, Isidore and Jean Dosete Guidry – were natives of Breaux Bridge. Sons of Alcide Guidry and Marie Louise Hebert, they lived a simple life as tenant farmers.1   

Tous les tracas moi j'ai eu dans ma vie,

C’était te faire venir, toi malheureuse,

Et aujourd'hui, mais, tu veux me pousser,

Un jour à venir, tu vas voir ton erreur.

Ouais, toi, mignonne, observe bien ça t'as fait,

Et tu vas voir, moi, je méritais pas ça,

Si loin de moi comme toi tu peux dire,

Toi, toujours content pour aller te joindre.

Moi connais bien t'as eu de conseiller,

C'est bien tu n'fais, moi je peux pas t'oublier.

T'aurais pas du écouter les conseils.

Si tu m'abandonnes, toi, malheureuse,

J'vas m'en aller où jamais tu vas me voir,

Tu dis toi même la mort c’est bien triste,

Mais, j'aime mieux de mourir, que autre qu'être m'abandonnes.

Arthur Guidry (accordion),
Dosete Guidry (fiddle), Isidore Guidry (guitar)

Arriving in New Orleans, and sponsored by Boudreaux's Music Shop, the trio recorded "Homme Abondonne" (#15849).   According to Dosete's grandson, Patrick Thibodeaux, 

Papa Dosete started putting this song together while working in the field. Got home and grabbed his fiddle, put the words to music... Jolie Blonde!1  

Although Amede Breaux holds the title to the original 1929 Jolie Blonde recording, the Guidrys’ take on the instrumentation was unique. Instead of singling out a “pretty blond,” Arthur attached his own lyrics to the popular melody, talking about a man abandoned by his lover.1  

Daily Advertiser
Oct 3, 1929

All the trouble I've had in my life,

It was to make you return, you bad woman,

And today, well, you want to drive me (crazy),

One day you'll return, you will see your mistake.

Yeah, you cutie, look at what you've done,

And you'll see, I did not deserve all of that,

So far from me as you are, you could say,

You, I'm always ready to go join you.

I know well, you've had advice,

It's good (that) you didn't, I cannot forget you,

You should not have listened to the advice.

If you abandon me, you bad woman,

I'm going to go where you're never going to see me,

You said yourself (that) death is very sad,

But, I'd rather die, other than to be abandoned.

1. "Breaux Bridge At Center of 90-Year-Old Cajun Music Mystery". Wade Falcon. Teche News.  St. Martinville, La. - Wednesday, April 24, 2019.
2. Lyrics by Stephane F

Release Info:
NO-244 Le Garcon Negligent | Vocalion 15849
NO-245 Homme Abondonne | Vocalion 15849

Find:

CAJUN-Rare & Authentic (JSP, 2008)

"Le Garcon Negligent" - Guidry Brothers

The Guidry Brothers had a short stint recording for Vocalion in 1929.  The group, most likely from south Louisiana, consisted of either 3 or possibly 4 members however, it's unknown.  Only 6 songs were listed in the session sheet. 

Allons aller voir la ‘tite fille,

Il y a bien longtemps, j’ai pas eu des nouvelles,

Les jours passés, j’ai envoyé un mail,

Elle m’a jamais renvoyé des nouvelles.

       

Hé, quoi tu fais, toi, chère petite fille,

T’es après me laisser pour partir avec un autre,

T’aurais pas du me faire des promesses,

Mais quelles nouvelles j’vas apporter à mon père?

T’avais pas su le malheur que j’ai eu, 

Quand j’arrivais, la belle était partie,

Elle était partie se marrier avec un autre,

Mais, quel espoir que moi j’peux avoir?

J’ai toujours dit, "Toi t'es un garçon,

Qui negligeais beaucoup trop ses visites,

Tu sais toi-même quand y a une belle paix dans l'âme,

Y a toujours quequ' malin pour te la prendre."

"Le Garcon Neglignet" (#15849).   It's the first recording of the similar melody later used in "Big Texas" and "Jambalaya".  Lyrically, the theme is a common one; similar to Jolie Blonde where the love interest leaves with another because of a "negligent boy".  While the word "malin" signifies "intelligent", the context here is more along the lines of "mischevious" or "canaille", similar to "smart-ass". 

Recorded at half-time tempo, it could have easily been the source for the Breaux Brother's "La Valse De Bayou Plaquemine", Cleoma Breaux's "Pin Solitaire", J.B. Fusilier's "Lake Arthur Waltz", Happy Fats' "Gran Prairie", Jolly Boys' "Abbeville", and "Allons Kooche Kooche" by the Louisiana Rounders. 

Come see me, little girl,

It's been a long time, I have not heard any news,

The past few days, I sent a letter,

She never returned any news.

Hey, what you've done, dear little girl,

You've left me to go with another,

You should not have made promises,

Well, what news will I bring to my father?

You didn't have the problems I had,

When I arrived, my beautiful one was gone,

She was gone to get married with another,

Well, what hope can I have?

I have always said "You, you're a boy,

Who neglected far too many visits,

You know yourself when there is a beautiful peace in your soul,

There's always someone mischievous to take it away."

1. Lyrics by Stephane F

Find:

CAJUN-Rare & Authentic: 1929 - 1934 (JSP, 2008)

"La Recomendation Du Soulard" - Guidry Brothers

The Guidry Brothers produced six sides for Vocalion Records in 1929.  Containing the earliest known recordings of Cajun yodeling, the group from Anse La Butte were hardly known outside of the small town of Breaux Bridge.  A record store owner in Lafayette invited all three gentlemen, Isidore, Dosete and Arthur Guidry to New Orleans with other contemporary Cajun artists from the St. Landry Parish area.  They recorded the drinking song "La Recomendation du Soulard" (#15844),  incorporating an accordion, guitar, and fiddle.

Quand j'étais jeune garçon,

Les choses étaient différentes,

J'avais tout mon idée,

C'était sur les jeunes filles.

A présent que je suis vieux,

Tous les choses ils sont changées,

J'ai mis mon iyoutntention,

De dessus la boisson.

Parlez-nous à boire,

C'est là dans nos plaisirs,

Il faut jamais penser,

De juste se marier.

Quand on est marié,

Si la femme elle soigne(?) pas,

On est dans les dangers,

De toujours travailler.

Parlez-moi (z)à boire,

C'est là dans mes plaisirs,

Il faut jamais penser,

De juste se marier.

Quand on est marié,

On se met à tout crier(?),

Toujours en regrettant,

Ce joli temps pas.

It's an old drinking song about getting reminiscing about single life, getting married, and the regrets which lead to drinking.  It may have some similarities to a much older tune known as "Si J'aurais Des Ailes".  Although recorded in New Orleans for Vocalion in 1929, records do not show who played what instrument on any of the songs. The tune incorporates yodeling buried between the french lyrics.  However, it seems that at some point, one of the members begins to yodel and just gives up halfway through.  According to author Chris King:

Le Recommendation Du Soulard displays this less than first-class yodel but it has to be said the performance is very individual; at times one is reminded as much of an English Morris Dance number than a Cajun piece, all of which adds to the enjoyment. 

When I was a young boy,

Things were different,

I had thoughts,

They were of young girls.

Now that I am old,

All things have changed,

I set my intentions,

Topping the drink.

Tell you about drinking,

It's our pleasures,

We never think,

Of just getting married.

When we are married,

Whether the woman nurses or not,

We are in danger,

Always working.

Tell me about drinking,

It's my pleasure,

We never think,

Of just getting married.

When we are married,

We start to cry,

Always regretting,

It's not a pretty time.

The Balfa Brothers would later turn this song into their famous tune "Parlez Nous a Boire" in 1964 and again in 1966.

1. Authentic Cajun & Rare: 1929 - 1934 (JSP, 2008).  Liner notes.
2. Image by Malcolm V
3. Lyrics by Jerry M and Marc C

Find: 
Authentic Cajun & Rare: 1929 - 1934 (JSP, 2008)
Old Time Cajun, Vol. 2 (Count, 2013)