Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 06:01 AM

Hey, in the process of this, I found a great Website, http://www.cajunlyrics.com/?lyrics=665

---

JOLIE BLONDE
(Hackberry Ramblers version)

Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait
Tu m'as quitté pour t'en aller
Pour t'en aller avec un autre, oui, que moi
Quel espoir et quel av'nir mais moi je peux avoir?
www.cajunlyrics.com
Jolie blonde, tu m'as quitté pour tout seul
Pour t'en aller chez ta famille
Si t'aurais pas écouté tous les conseils de les autres
Tu serais ici avec moi aujourd'hui.
www.cajunlyrics.com
Jolie blonde, tu croyais il y avait juste toi
Il y'a pas juste toi dans le pays pour moi aimer
Je va's trouver juste une autre jolie blonde
Bon Dieu sait, moi, j'aime tant.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: GUEST,PoppaGator
Date: 05 Sep 14 - 07:03 PM

The version on Cajun Lyrics website is unassailably authentic because it's the Hackberry Ramblers version. That band has been together forever. My friend Ben Sandmel was their manager and drummer for several recent years while he was in his 40s & 50s while the rest of the group were in their 70s & 80s.
Ben recently published the definitive biography of New Orleans R&B icon Ernie K-Doe, incidentally. Can't mention his name without plugging his latest and greatest accomplishment.

Subject: ADD Version: Jolie Blonde
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 06:17 PM

As Dead Horse wisely said somewhere,

Most Louisiana artists have recorded this tune, and as far as I can tell, none have done it the same way, and rarely has anybody sung this, or any other cajun song the same way twice.
It is quite the "done thing" to do your own version, and the lyrics are not that important. It is considered to be a dance tune, not a pop classic.

So far, I have found three basic (and radically different) versions of this song:

1. Jolie Blonde, 'gardez donc, quoi t'as fait
This one stems from the 1929 recording by Amadee Breaux, which is in the Digital Tradition. The Hackberry Ramblers recorded the first and third verses of this version in 1936.

2. Jolie Blonde, jolie fille, tu m'a quitte pour t'en aller
This one comes from the 1946 recording by Harry Choates, but I'm still looking for a good transcription of the Harry Choates version.

3. Hey Ma Jolie Blonde, /Tu m'as quitté pour t'en aller
I don't know where this one comes from, but this version seems to be the one that's most popular in recent recordings. It seems to be mostly the Breaux lyrics, starting the song with a long, loud "Hey.: "Nonc" (uncle) Allie Young is one performer who did this version. I still haven't found a transcription of this version that satisfies me.


Here's one example of this third version, from http://www.cajunlyrics.com/?lyrics=170.

JOLIE BLONDE
Kermit Venable and Beaubassin Cajun Band

Hey Ma Jolie Blonde,
Tu m'as quitté pour t'en aller
Pour t'en aller, dans les bras de tout les autres chère
Quel espoir et quel avoir que moi je peux avoir

Solo

Jolie Blonde, tu croyais y'avais juste toi
Y'a pas juste toi dedans l'pays pour moi aimer
Tu m'as quitté pour t'en aller,
Dans l'pays de la Louisiane Ma jolie Blonde

Tu m'as laissé pour t'en aller,
Pour t'en aller avec un autre
Quel espoir et quel avenir que moi j'peux avoir

---

And you really need to take a look at this page:

http://www.paulcastlemusic.com/jolie-blonde.html

Where else can you find a recording of Waylon Jennings singing "Jolie Blonde," accompanied by Buddy Holly?

Subject: ADD: Where Are You Jolie Blonde
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 06:22 PM

I got a kick out of this one, found at http://www.cajunlyrics.com/?lyrics=1136

WHERE ARE YOU JOLIE BLONDE?
recorded by Johnnie Allan

La chanson plus populaire, dedans la Louisiane
La chanson, La chère jolie blonde
L'histoire d'une jeune fille, a quitte ses deux enfants
et sont mari pour s'en aller pour tout le temps

Jolie blonde c'est ayoù toi t'es
J'ai cherché pour toi cinquante années
J'après souhaiter t'attend ma chanson
Et t'en revenir dans ta maison dans la Louisiane

Solo

Ils croyaient un bon jour, elle aurait a revenue
Rester avec sont monde dans la campagne
Rencontrer les 'tits enfants, et tout profiter
Raconter sont histoire, z-ayoù elle à été

Jolie blonde c'est ayou toi t'es
J'ai cherché pour toi cinquante années
J'après souhaiter qu't'attend ma chanson
Et t'en revenir à la maison dans la Louisiane

Copyright :
© 1987 Swallow Records

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 07:44 PM

Joe, the lyrics posted at the start of this thread by George Seto are the ones given in Musiciens cadiens et créoles, by Barry Jean Ancelet.

They are the lyrics of the first recording of "Jolie blonde" by Amédé, Cléopha and Ophé Breaux.

The translation is the one given by Ancelet.

Note the corrected spellings of the Breaux names. They are seldom given correctly.

Line 3- t'en, not T'en

The book is in both French and English (The Makers of Cajun Music). The University of Texas Press, 1984.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Sep 14 - 08:40 PM

Gee, Q, are you going to make me buy another book? Your recommendations are always spot on, so thank you very much. You've led me to many books that I treasure.
This one cost me $3.47, with free shipping.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Sep 14 - 12:36 PM

"The Makers of Cajun Music- Musiciens cadiens et créoles" is devoted to the musicians current at the time of publication, 1984. It has some historical data, but that is not its main focus.
Helpful is a note on Cajun terminology.

The first recording of Jolie Blonde by the Breaux was called Ma blonde est partie. April 19, 1929. The lyrics actually were written by Améé's sister, Cléoma (Cléopha), according to her daughter.

The Discography in the book is based on collections that were available in 1984.

A good list, seems comprehensive, of the Louisiana and SE Texas Cajun musicians is in Wikipedia, "List of People Related to Cajun Music."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: GUEST,WF
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 11:23 PM

By request:

"Jole Blon" by Harry Choates, 1946 on Goldstar (#1314)

Cajun French:

É ha ha!

Jolie blonde, jolie fille
Chère petite, jolie couer
Tu m'as laissé pour ton aller
Avec un autre, mais chère petite
Dans l'pays de la Louisiane
Mais malheureuse

Oh, mais jolie couer
Ca t'as fait à ton pauvre papa
Tu m'as laissé, mais, chère petite
Mais moi tout seule
Mais malheureuse
Quelle espoir, mais quelle avenir
Mais moi j'peux avoir?

É hé hé!
Oh ha ha!
Chère petite, jolie blonde
Mais ca t'as dit, ma malheureuse
Quoi t'as fait? Tu vas avoir
Tu serais pitié


English:

E ha ha!

Pretty blonde, pretty girl,
Dear little pretty heart,
You left me, went away,
With another, my dear,
Into the countryside of Louisiana,
Oh my! I'm miserable.

Oh, my pretty heart,
What you did to your poor papa,
You left me, but, my dear,
Oh my! I am all alone,
Oh my! I'm miserable,
What hope, what future can I have?

E heh heh!
Oh ha ha!
Dear pretty blonde
Oh my! I told you I'm unhappy
What did you do? Have mercy, would you?

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv_JDow1I38


Read more at https://earlycajunmusic.blogspot.com

WF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: GUEST,WF
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 11:26 PM

Small correction. In the second verse, what I meant to say is

"You left to go to your poor papa,"

WF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 12:34 AM

I'm not sure I follow you, WF. Is the second verse supposed to look like this?

Oh, my pretty heart,
You left to go to your poor papa,
You left me, but, my dear,
Oh my! I am all alone,
Oh my! I'm miserable,
What hope, what future can I have?

P.S. I need some help proofreading four Cajun songs for a volunteer project. If you can help, send me an e-mail.
Thanks.

-Joe Offer, Mudcat Music Editor-
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Monique
Date: 09 Nov 14 - 03:55 AM

Some suggestions:
-it's cœur or coeur if you don't have the "œ", but not couer
-"ton" aller... "ton" is "your" (possessive), "to go"= t'en aller
-It's a guy singing, so it's "malheureux" "seul" in the masculine, "malheureuse" "seule" are about a woman.
-"quelle" avenir, "avenir" is a masculine word, so "quel avenir".
"Ça t'a fait à ton pauvre papa" puzzles me but it seems to me that it means "you did that to your poor daddy", lit. "That you did to your poor daddy" which makes the song sound as if it were the father complaining his daughter left him for "another man" (what?! some Œdipe thing here?) unless "daddy" is some pet name, not the actual father.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: GUEST,WF
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 12:16 AM

I did the best i could with the 1946 version.

- Yes, it's 'cœur'.
- Yes, it's "t'en aller".
- Yes, however, i've never seen that masculine spelling used in Cajun lyrics before. However, the spelling is most likely "malheureux" and "seul".
- Yes, "quel avenir"
- Yes, it's a daughter. I missed the word "fille" at the end of the verse. Second verse, third line should read "m'as laissé, mais, chere tite fille,"   That would make sense for the line of "poor daddy".   The line should read "That you did to your poor daddy".

Thanks for these corrections. Very much appreciated.
WF

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: Monique
Date: 10 Nov 14 - 08:29 AM

Yikes! I forgot "jolie" in "jolie cœur". It should be "joli" -cœur is a masculine word.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 11:45 AM

Back in the mid-1980's I learned this version orally from a homeless street musician in Austin, who went by the name of "Fiddlin' Willie".
He said he learned it from his "Uncle Dewey" in Louisiana. I think he was referring to Dewey Balfo, although Willie's lyrics are a bit different.

(Note: I'm not a French speaker, the following lyrics are based on phonetic memory from playing it many times on the streets of Austin.)

Jolie Blon, jolie fille,
Jolie ma, ma chere petit.
La fleur du mon coeur, tu a mis mon coeur en feu,
Car vou et ma chere, Jolie Blon.

And his version of the English (probably not 100% literal):

Jolie Blon, pretty girl,
You're the flower of my heart.
You have set my heart on fire, and I've loved you from the start,
And I'll love you forever, Jolie Blon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Jole Blon / Jolie Blonde / Jolie Blon
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 07 Oct 17 - 06:08 AM

The possum up a gumstraw, cup of coffee, etc were from Moon Mullicans New Jole Blon which went to #2 on the C&W charts in 1946. His actual lyrics will probably never be known for sure unless someone can record the version on YouTube, slow it down, and get them that way. He changed them every live performance.

Mullican hated the fans and if you listen closely to a live performance you can hear him shout 'oh shatonia' and other deragatory terms.