"Si Tu Voudroit Marriez Avec Moi (Marry Me)" - Joe's Acadians

Joe Werner, the Cajun harmonica player and entertainer rode the airwaves with his rendition of popular tunes and Cajun ballads.  One of Joe's earliest public performances was at a Houston radio station KTRH in 1930.  There he surprised listeners with his renditions of songs played on his harmonica.2  

Je te donnerais un bague en or

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi, chère.

Allons  s'marier chere!

Je te donnerais un char neuf,

Et mon portrait de mon petit coeur,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi, petite.

Je te donnerais la clef de mon coffre,

Et toute mon or et mon argent,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi, chère.

Allons s'marier Jimmy

Je te donnerais un char neuf,

Et mon portrait de mon petit coeur,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi, chère.

Je te donnerais la clef de mon coffre,

Et toute mon or et mon argent,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi, chère.

Je te donnerais un bague en or

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi,

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi

Si tu voudrais t'marier avec moi, chère.

Rayne Tribune
Dec 5, 1936

Probably during the time he was courting his wife, he recorded "Si Tu Voudroit Marriez Avec Moi" (#2060) for Bluebird Records in New Orleans with Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez on guitar and possibly Wayne Perry on fiddle.  By 1936, he was engaged and married to Annie Thibodeaux of Crowley in a quiet ceremony with only immediate family.1   While living in Crowley, he attained much recognition as an outstanding musician and entertainer, being the first "live talent" to appear on KSIG.3  They remained in Crowley until the 1970s when they moved to Fort Worth, TX.

I would give you a gold ring,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me, dear.

Let's get married, dear.

I'll give you a new car, 

And my portrait of my sweetheart,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me, little girl.

I'll give you the key to my chest,

And all my gold and my money,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me, dear.

Let's get married, Jimmy.

I'll give you a new car, 

And my portrait of my sweetheart,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me, little girl.

I'll give you the key to my chest,

And all my gold and my money,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me, dear.

I would give you a gold ring,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me,

If you'd marry me, dear.

In 2009, Linzay Young & Joel Savoy covered this obscure tune as "Si Tu Voudrais Marier".

1. RT 4-10-1936
2. "Local Boy Plays From Houston Radio Station" RT 12-05-1936
3. The Rayne Acadian-Tribune (Rayne, Louisiana) 18 Jun 1978
4. Lyrics by 'ericajun'

Release Info:
BS-027890-1 Si Tu Voudroit Marriez Avec Moi (Marry Me) | Bluebird B-2060-A
BS-027891-1 La Two Step A Chachin (Asa's Two Step) | Bluebird B-2060-B

Find: 
Raise Your Window: A Cajun Music Anthology 1928 - 1941 (The Historic Victor-Bluebird Sessions Vol. 2) (CMF, 1993)
Cajun Country, Vol. 2, More Hits from the Swamp (JSP, 2005)

"Le Vieux Arbe De Pin (They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree)" - Louisiana Rounders

The Louisiana Rounders were formed from several Acadia Parish musicians, one being the popular entertainer Joe Werner.  After his big break with "Wondering" recorded with the Hackberry Ramblers, he went on to follow up with a mildly successful recording career.  In the early 1930s, country music from Texas began it's large scale influence on local Cajun music in Louisiana.  Several bands from west Louisiana and east Texas popped up using country music instruments and sang Cajun French lyrics. Joe Werner had alot of success with Happy Fat's early band and made a name for himself.  It wouldn't be long before Decca would ask him to travel to Dallas for a recording session where he invited Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez to come along and record with Wayne Perry as the Louisiana Rounders.

Ils ont coupé le vieux arbre de pin,

Ils l'ont halé loin au moulin,

Pour faire un cercueil de pin pour le cher cœur a moi,

Quand ils ont coupé le vieux arbre de pin.

Elle a pas une fleur* dans sa poche ce soir,

Où, là, mon cœur va toujours être,

Ils ont coupé mon cœur quand ils ont séparés,

Quand ils ont coupé le vieux arbre de pin.

Daily Advertiser
Aug 18, 1938

In 1937, Werner, fiddler Wayne Perry and steel guitar player Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez traveled to Dallas, TX and recorded the old tune "Le Vieux Arbe De Pin (They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree)" for Decca records (#17046).  The song was an old American folk tune, first recorded in 1929 by George Brown, Edward Eliscu, William Raskin and Albert Barbelle and then later by the Carson Robison Trio and Dick Robertson.  It would eventually become a staple of western music.  In his line, "elle a pas une fleur dans sa poche ce soir", he could be referencing the line "elle a pas seule dans sa tombe ce soir" which speaks of the love interest buried in the grave but never really alone.

Papa Cairo

They cut the old pine tree,

They hauled it away to the mill,

To make a pine coffin for my dear sweetheart of mine,

When they cut the old pine tree.

She is not alone in her grave tonight,

There, where my heart will always be,

They cut my heart when they separated it,

When they cut the old pine tree. 

Joe Werner and Papa Cairo continued to work together throughout their careers.  The song's popularity continued for decades, recorded by artists such as Sons of the Pioneers, Jimmy Driftwood and George Fisher, Gene Autry, Black & White, Buck Wilson & His Rangers, Dan Parker w/Orch, Dick Robertson w/Orch, Frank Luther, Frankie Marvin, Gene Carroll - Glen Rowell, Hart & Ogle, Joe Rines & His Orch, Paul Mason, Redd Evans & His Billy Boys, Rice Brothers Gang, Tennessee Moonbeams, Tommy & Willie, and the Tune Wranglers.

1. Lyrics by Stephane F

Release Info:
63075 Le Vieux Arbe De Pin (They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree) | Decca 17046 A
63078 Vingt Et Un Ans (Twenty One Years) | Decca 17046 B

Find:
JOE WERNER Early Cajun Artist (BACM, 2016)

"Vingt Et Un Ans (Twenty One Years)" - Louisiana Rounders

Growing up, multi-talented musician and entertainer, Joe Werner, dazzled the local audiences in Crowley with his abilities to sing, whistle, play guitar, and the harmonica as a kid on stage.   Before long, his name as a local entertainer would reach neighboring cities. Throughout the 20s and 30s, he learned the popular tunes of the day and converted the lyrics to his native Cajun French language.  By 1936, Joe worked alongside the Hackberry Ramblers before forming a small group for his own recording session with Decca to record some popular American cover songs.  Still considered an amateur musician, he continued to perform in many talent contests, winning awards and garnering more fame. 

Rayne Tribune
May 8 1936

Le juge dit "Lève-toi debout garçon et sèche tes larmes,

T'es condamné a Nashville pour vingt et un ans",

Embrasse-moi bye-bye, chère, et dis tu seras pour moi,

Parce que vingt et un ans, chère, c'est bien longtemps.

Pas le loin du chemin d'fer, chère, aussi loin tu peux voir,

Et continue à m'faire bye-bye, chère, a "farewell" a moi,

Alors, embrasse-moi bye-bye, chère, et dis tu seras pour moi,

Parce que vingt et un ans, chère, c'est bien longtemps.

Daily Advertiser
Aug 18, 1938

Werner teamed up with Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez and Wayne Perry, who were both Crowley residents.   By the end of 1937, they were in Dallas, TX at the Adolphus Hotel for their first Decca session.  The trio covered a popular 1930 Bob Miller tune called "Vingt Et Un Ans (Twenty One Years)" (#17046) in a Cajun string band style.   Werner's harmonica mimic'd the accordion sound that had been so popular 10 years earlier.  

The judge said "Stand up boy and dry your tears,

You've been condemned to Nashville for twenty one years,"

Kiss me bye-bye, dear, and say you'll be mine,

Because twenty one years, dear, it's a very long time.

Not far from the railroad, dear, as far as you can see,

And continue waving bye-bye, dear, wishing farewell to me,

So, kiss me bye-bye, dear, and say you'll be mine,

Because twenty one years, dear, it's a very long time.

Bob Miller
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame

The original song writer, Bob Miller, was among the pioneering professional songwriters who specialized in what was then called hillbilly music. He worked for Irving Berlin Music, formed his own publishing company in 1933, and also worked as an A&R man and record producer for the Columbia and Okeh labels. His biggest early hit was the prison song "Twenty-One Years." During the Depression, this song was so popular and was sung by so many artists that Miller wrote a number of follow-up songs to it, including "Twenty-One Years, Part Two," "New Twenty-One Years," "Answer to Twenty-One Years," "Woman's Answer to Twenty-One Years," "After Twenty-One Years," "The End of Twenty-One Years" and "The Last of the Twenty-One Year Prisoner."1    

1. http://nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com/Site/inductee?entry_id=2509
2. Lyrics by Stephane F

Release Info:
L05 63075 Le Vieux Arbe De Pin (They Cut Down The Old Pine Tree) 17046 A Decca
L08 63078 Vingt Et Un Ans (Twenty One Years) 17046 B Decca

"Ayou, Ayou, Mon Petite Chien Pour Edete (Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone)" - Louisiana Rounders

Joe Werner was a complete entertainer throughout the Cajun countryside.   He started his career in music and minstrel shows.  He recalled back when he was a barefooted kid, he told his father before Christmas that he waned Santa Claus to bring him a harmonica.  He got his harmonica an he started "fooling" with music.  Year after year, the Christmas request was the same, and year after year, Santa Claus came through with another harmonica.4  At the local high school auditorium in 1927, he entered a talent show, playing his harmonica and received "encore upon encore" for his version of the song "Casey Jones".6 By the early 1930s, he was dabbling both in music and in theater.  He participated in black face minstrel shows as a comedian for local theater groups.3  

Éyoù éyoù, mon petit chien peut d'être,

Éyoù éyoù, l'est peut d'être,

La queue coupée court(e), les oreilles sont larges,

Éyoù éyoù, l'est peut d'être.

Éyoù éyoù, mon petit chien peut d'être,

Éyoù éyoù, l'est peut d'être,

Y'a une tache dans le coté et ses cheveux est coupés courts,

Éyoù éyoù, l'est peut d'être.

Rayne Tribune
Dec 10, 1937

Throughout 1936, Joe's entertainment services would include playing music for special novelty programs at the Opera House, personifying Jimmie Rogers on stage.1   He even won a second place award during the finals in the Heymann Amateur Hour in Lafayette.    During the time allotted to him for his part of the program, Joe offered two English selections, "Cocktail For Two" and "She's Just That Kind Of A Girl". He accompanied both songs on the guitar and harmonica, also singing several choruses and whistling.2    

He shortly jumped into the band called the Hackberry Ramblers, recording for Bluebird Records.  The following year, Joe left their group and formed the Louisiana Ramblers with Wayne Perry on fiddle and Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez on steel guitar.   Together, they traveled to the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, TX where they recorded the old traditional tune called "Ayou, Ayou, Mon Petite Chien Pour Edete (Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone)" in Cajun French (#17040). His title written as "ayou" or "éyoù" is a common Louisiana French phrasing of the words "où est".

Oh where, oh where can my little dog be,

Oh where, oh where can he be,

The tail is cut short, the ears are wide,

Oh where, oh where can he be.

Oh where, oh where can my little dog be,

Oh where, oh where can he be,

There's a spot on the side and his hair is cut short,

Oh where, oh where can he be.

Even stage shows that arrived in town would feature Joe Werner as the opening act.  Eventually, Joe would settle down, hosting a radio show on KSIG for years.4 

1. "Winners Named For Premier".  RT 2-28-1936.
2. "Werner Wins Amateur Award" RT 5-8-1936.
3. "St. Joseph Fair Will Open On Saturday".  RT 10-18-1935.
4. "Werner's Wondering Finds New Popularity".  H.I. Mitchell.  CDS. 1952.
5. RT 12-10-1937
6. "Large Crowd Attends Community Singing" RT 5-7-1927
7. Lyrics by Stephane F

Find:
Cajun: Rare & Authentic (JSP, 2008)
The Very Best of Cajun: La Stomp Creole, Vol. 1 (Viper, 2016)

"Je Vue Ta Figure Dans La Lune (I Saw Your Face In The Moon)" - Louisiana Rounders

Joe Werner formed several groups throughout the 1930s including this one called the Louisiana Rounders.  The group consisted of Wayne Perry on fiddle and occasionally Julius Papa Cairo Lamperez on steel guitar.  Werner played guitar and harmonica together on the recording of "Je Vue Ta Figure Dans La Lune (I Saw Your Face In The Moon)" in Dallas, Texas on Decca records (#17039) in 1937.

J’ai vu ta figure dans la lune, cher,

T’as fait des beaux yeux après moi,

Wayne Perry

Ta prétendiez que étiez heureux, cher,

Mais dans tes yeux je pouvais voir.

T’après cacher des idées de jours passés, cher,

Moi et toi c’est fini,

Moi je peux voir ta figure après dépeinte dans le ciel,

Moi, j’ai vu ta figure dans la lune, cher,

J'ai vu ta figure dans la lune.

The tune is sung by Joe Werner's wife who accompanied the group during this session.   It's a Cajun rendition of the popular Odis Elder country tune called "I Saw Your Face In The Moon" covered by many artists during 1936 and 1937 such as Jimmie Davis, Cliff Bruner, and Ray Whitley.   Later, it would become famous again with Webb Pierce's version.

I saw your face in the moon, dear,

You made beautiful eyes at me,

You pretended that you were happy, dear,

But in your eyes, I could see.

Papa Cairo

After hiding your thoughts, days passed, dear,

You and me, it's over,

I can see your face depicted in the sky,

I saw your face in the moon, dear,

I saw your face in the moon.

1. Lyrics by Stephane F

Find:
Cajun: Rare & Authentic (JSP, 2008)

"Bon Whiskey" - Louisiana Rounders

The Hackberry Ramblers, a string band which formed in 1933, began their recording career in 1935 for Bluebird records.  Since most of their material was in French, Montgomery Ward asked them to sing English tunes for KVOL in Lafayette and rename the band after their tire brand: "Riverside".   A vocalist nicknamed "Rang Tang Bully", Joe Werner would travel and sing with the group.   The Riverside Ramblers' most popularized song, "Wondering", recorded in 1937, would be re-recorded by Elvis Costello and Webb Pierce.


By 1937, Joe, who was becoming recognized for his vocal and guitar skills, caused Bluebird to request him to record a record in New Orleans.  That same year, Decca invited him to Dallas to do the same.  This time, he would travel with several musicians including a Cajun-hillbilly fiddler named Wayne Perry and lap steel guitarist named Julius "Papa Cairo" Lamperez.  Together, they formed the group the Louisiana Rounders in which they recorded "Bon Whiskey" (#17039).  It was an older fiddle tune, usually referred to as "Rye Whiskey" or "Drunken Hiccups".  It was based on the same melody as the Appalachian tune "My Horses Ain't Hungry".

Joe Werner, Luderin Darbonne, Lennis Sonnier

Bon whisky, bon whisky, t'es pas mon ami,

T'as tué mon grand père et tracassé mon idée.

Je mange quand j'ai faim et je bois quand j'ai soif,

Si l'whisky me tue pas, je va vivre jusqu'à de mort.

Il n'ya rein triste que whiskey, et moi je connais,

Je plonger au fond je rester dans bas,

Jolie femme quand j'ennuie, bon whisky quand j'ai soif,

Et un bon temps passé, moi j'va vivre jusqu'à de mort.

Wayne was a fiddle player from Indian Bayou had gained enough reputation to have Alan Lomax record him in 1935 during a field session.  However, he left Louisiana and fought in WWII and when he returned, he was a changed man.  According to fiddler Mitch Reed, he never played again due to mental trauma from battle, sometimes wandering in the woods.   Lomax stated he was the most accomplished fiddler he recorded that didn't go on to record commercially.

Wayne Perry

Good whiskey, good whiskey, you're not my friend 

You killed my grandfather and this troubles my mind.

I eat when I'm hungry and I drink when I'm thirsty 

If the whiskey doesn't kill me, I'll live until I die

There's nothing sadder than whiskey, and I know it,

I fall to the bottom and remain there,

Pretty woman when I get bored, there's good whiskey when I'm thirsty 

And I'll "pass a good time", I'll live until I die

The high pitched voice would not be Joe, but his wife, Annie Thibodeaux, who traveled with the band and would sing this tune while Joe plays the harmonica.  He recorded with several Cajun groups between 1937 and 1938 and some of the groups include his name or part of it.   Later, Joe would record for Deluxe, Arhoolie and Old Gold labels. The Balfa's used the melody in their song "Une Livre De Tabac", recorded in the documentary "Dedans le Sud de la Louisiane" in 1972 and the song would be resurrected years later by the band Jambalaya.

1. Cajun Breakdown : The Emergence of an American-Made Music By Ryan Andre Brasseaux
2. Broven, John (1983). South To Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous.
3. All Music Guide to Country: The Experts' Guide to the Best Recordings in ... edited by Michael Erlewine
4. Traditional Music in Coastal Louisiana: The 1934 Lomax Recordings By Joshua Clegg Caffery
5. http://www.knowla.org/audio-file/223/&view=summary
6. Lyrics by Herman M

Find:

Cajun: Rare & Authentic (JSP, 2008)