M. Baron Co. was the publishing company of Maurice Baron, the same Baron who was a boyhood friend of Lionel Belasco and published L'Année passée and other songs by Massie Ferguson and Lionel Belasco in Calypso Songs of the West Indies."

MorwenE., I have no idea where the Martinique connection for the song came from, except its mention in the song.

Here is a song Lafcadio Hearn collected in Martinique. He gave the musical score, if you would like it, send a pm to me. The book is not common.

Lyr. Add: Loéma Tombé
(Creole words)

Cé ti mamanmaile-lè:
Zautt tée bô-la-ri-vié,
Ou'a di moin comm'ça:
Si ouè Loéma tombé:

Ou'a di moin comm'ça: (Ref. continued ad lib.)

(growing more and more rapid.)
Loéma tombé:
Ou'a di moin comm'ça:
Loéma tombé:
Ou'a di moin comm'ça:
Loéma tombé

English, with description.
Carnival season in St. Pierre- while the devil makes his nightly rounds followed by many hundred boys clapping hands and leaping in chorus. It may also be observed in the popular malicious custom of the pillard, or in creole, piyà.
(further description)

(single voice)
You little children there! you who were by the river-side!

Tell me truly this:- Did you see Loéma fall?
Tell me truly this-
(Chorus, opening) Did you see Loéma fall?
(Single voice) Tell me truly this-
(Chorus) Did you see Loéma fall?
(Single voice, more rapidly) Tell me truly this-
(Chorus, more quickly) Loéma fall!
(Single voice) Tell me truly this-
(Chorus) Loéma fall!
(Single voice) Tell me truly this-

(Chorus,always more quickly, and more loudly, all the hands clapping together like a fire of musketry) Loéma fall! etc.

"The same rhythmic element characterizes many of the games and round dances of Martinique children;- but, as a rule, I think it is perceptible that the sense of time is less developed in the colored children than in the black."

Lafcadio Hearn, 1890, Two Years in the French West Indies, Appendix. Harper & Brothers, New York.