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Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film

13 Aug 03 - 12:12 PM (#1001295)
Subject: Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film
From: Allan C.

Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman share a scene in early in the film, "Saratoga Trunk" in which Ingrid's character sings a song (Before you Google freaks get too excited, I should tell you that it is NOT "As Long As I Live".) which she identifies as being traditional Creole in origin. Most of the song was in French - a language I cannot understand. However, Ingrid's character offered a brief translation, the last and only line of which I recall is, "I will kill you, I will kill you" or possibly, "I will shoot you, I will shoot you". I think this may have been in terms of the hunting of a bird or some other animal.

Other than that rather unappealing line, the song had its good points; but mostly I was taken by the simple melody, which sounded as though there should have been some sort of dance that might have gone with it.

Because there seems to be such a small few traditional Creole songs on record here, I would hate to see this song fall through the cracks without further comment. Can anyone tell me more about it?

13 Aug 03 - 03:43 PM (#1001422)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film
From: greg stephens

This is the wildest wildest guess, I've never seen the film. But very few French creole songs knocked around at that time with any public visibility, so I just mention that the song Gue Gue Solingaie" was I believe recorded in the 40's and 50's in the USA...so might have crept into a film?? It's a Louisiana lullaby: but I dont think it has any shooting or killing in it, just a lot of nonense about talking turtles and alligators.
   Probably no help at all, but it's the only remotely relevant fact I can think of!

13 Aug 03 - 06:22 PM (#1001527)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film
From: masato sakurai

Greg, I think it's hardly possible that the lullaby is the one asked for. The lyrics are posted HERE.

07 Sep 08 - 03:39 PM (#2433488)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film
From: GUEST,lilfullam69

"If you were a bird, Suzette, and I were a gun marvalette, I would shoot you down, sure, I would shoot you dead!"

I believe that was Ingrid's brief translation.

17 Jun 10 - 11:48 PM (#2930267)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film
From: GUEST,thelights045

Her actual translation is:
    "If you was a bird, Suzette, and I was a gun marvalette, I would shoot you down, sure, I would shoot you dead!"

I am almost certain that the song she sings is this:
    "Ah! Suzette, to veux pas chère?
    Ah! Suzette, Chère amie, to pas l'aimin moin.
    M'allé dans montagne, zamie,
    M'allé coupé canne, chère amie,
    M'allé fait l'argent, mo trésor,
    Pour porter donné toi.

    "Ah! Suzette, to veux pas chère?
    Ah! Suzette, Chère amie, to pas l'aimin moin.
    Mo couri dans bois, zamio,
    Mo toué zozo, chère amie,
    Mo fé plain l'argent, mo trésor,
    Pou porter donné toi."

Her translation does not really follow literally. But it has a much more authentic feel that a literal. It goes more:
    "Ah! Suzette, why do you not love me?
    I will go to the bush, dear one,
    I will go cut cane, dear friend,
    I will make money beloved,
    And bring it all to you.

    Ah! Suzette, why do you not love me?
    I went to the woods, dear one,
    I killed some birds, beloved,
    I made much money, sweetheart,
    And brought it all to you."

29 Jan 11 - 11:26 PM (#3085044)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Creole song from Saratoga Trunk film
From: GUEST,saratoga trunk fan

the song was the Louisiana Creole Slave song:

"Ah, Suzette, Chère"

here's a link for the full "original" words collected back in '73: books.google.com.....