The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66111 Message #1102724
Posted By: Q (Frank Staplin)
27-Jan-04 - 02:17 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Rum and Coca Cola
Subject: Lyr Add: L'ANNÉE PASSÉE
Lyr. Add: L'ANNÉE PASSÉE (Last Year)
A "Calypso" by Massie Patterson and Lionel Belasco
English version by Olga Paul
L'année passée moen té yon fille,
Moen té yon fille L'en caille mama moen,
L'année cela moen c'est yon femme
Moen c'est un' femme a sur la rue.-
Femme la se-coué corps moen ké baou,
Femme la se-coué corps moen ké baou,
Femme la se-coué moen ké baou,
Moen ké baou moen ké baou
Tout ça qui doux.
Temps Martinique té pris du fé
Yo té cherché Man o' Wa',
Pour sauvéces Mart'niquens
Pour mené yo Port-d'Espagne.
Last year I was a little girl
Living with my dear mother at home;
This year I am a woman though,
On the streets you will find me roam.
I have learned to dance and I'm fair,
I have learned to dance and I'm fair,
I have learned to dance and I'm fair,
And I'm fair, and I'm fair;
My steps are rare.
When Martinique was all in flames,
They looked for a Man o' War,
Hoped to save the people there,
Port -f Spain they were aiming for.-
"Free transcription by Maurice Baron." Sheet music labeled Allegretto grazioso, voice and piano 2/4. Pages 22-23.
Copyright, 1943 by M. Baron Co., New York. "Calypso Songs of the West Indies," 1943, Massie Patterson and Lionel Belasco, Free transcription by Maurice Baron, ASCAP.
The Foreward by M. Baron says "The editor wishes to make acknowledgement to Miss Massie Patterson and Lionel Belasco, collectors of these authentic "Calypso" songs from the lip of the Lesser Antilles natives; also to Miss Olga Paul for her expert English version of the Creole lyrics.
"These songs, though emanating from various parts of the West Indies, are, neverless, familiar to the natives of Trinidad, Barbados, Martinique, Guadelupe, Santa Lucia, etc."
"These lyrics are extremely simple, yet the melodies possess a unique charm. Many influences....African, Caribbean, French, Spanish, English as well as North and South American rhythms and even Gregorian modes."
Sheet music and lyrics for twelve songs are included in the compilation. All are listed as Calypsos by Massie Patterson and Lionel Belasco. Eight have lyrics in the French Creole patois.
These calypsos are so far in style from the tin pan alley calypsos (Rum, Dayo, etc.) that I hesitated about posting this calypso to this thread; however, this is the song involved in the famous suit discussed in other posts to this thread.
These Lesser Antilles songs deserve a thread of their own.
Lionel Belasco published several hundred works, including classical, Venezuelan and Antillean music.