The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #65565   Message #2553883
Posted By: GUEST
31-Jan-09 - 03:43 PM
Thread Name: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
Subject: RE: Anti-alcohol, temperance songs
There is a Cajun song (Louisiana-French) called Le Vieux Solard et Sa Femme, which means The Old Drunkard and His Wife. It was performed by Joe Falcon and his wife Clemo Breuax for Columbia Records in 1928.

It is a very catchy tune, which was also used by The Holy Modal Rounders for "Romping in the Swamp". The lyrics (and musical notation) are in the book "The Anthology of American Folk Music" (edited by Joshn Dunson and Ethel Raim, Oak Publications, New York, 1973, ISBN 0-8256-0133-9)which I bought many years ago, which accompanies the 3 CDs of the same name, which of course also features this song. The lyrics as sung on the CD are in French, and while these are also shown in the book there is an English translation:

Where are you going?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
I'm going to the cafe!

What are you going to do there?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
I'm gonna get drunk!

When'll you come back?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
Oh tomorrow or another day!

What do you want me to cook for you?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
Cook me five dozen eggs and a gallon of couscous!

What, that'll kill you!
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:
Well, maybe I want to die anyway!

Then where do you want me to bury you?
My good husband
Where are you going,
You who'll be the death of me
Where are you going, my good old man
The biggest drunk of the countryside

Spoken:

Bury me in the chimney corner, but put it out a little before or else it'll be hot

No doubt the tune fits the original French lyrics rather better

The book and the CDs (as a boxed set with accompanying background notes, etc) are well worth buying for anyone interested in old-time music. I got my copy of the book in a music shop somewhere in Northern Ireland, but had to get the CDs from www.rootsandrhytm.com in USA, a source of numerous old time music CDs, etc.