Jambalaya Lyrics - cajun interpretation, history by Clarence |
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This is the Jambalaya Song Lyrics (On the Bayou) sung by Hank Williams. (followed by the Cajun French version) Here are the Jambalaya lyrics to the Jambalaya song done by Hank Williams Sr. Hank Williams Sr copied the Jambalaya musical melody from an earlier tune recorded in Cajun French called "Grand Texas". Although Hank Williams used the earlier Cajun melody, the words to the song that we know as "Jambalaya" was written by Hank Williams Sr. After Hank Williams Sr recorded his version with the new words, Cajuns re-recorded Jambalaya with Hank Williams' words translated into Cajun French. Cajuns now consider the song to be one of our own songs. (By the way, Hank Williams mispronounced the word "Bayou". Hank pronounced it as "by-oh" when the correct pronunciation is "by-you". I guess he needed something to rhyme with "me oh my oh". This is located at www.cajunradio.org/wordscajun3.html Here are the Jambalaya lyrics in English that Hank Williams wrote. Further down, I have the lyrics Jambalaya translated into Cajun French. I also have the various cajun musicians who recorded the Jambalaya song. I can be contacted at clarence@cajunradio.org Hank Williams Jambalaya song lyrics: Good-bye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh Me gotta go pole the pirogue down the bayou My Yvonne, the sweetest one, me oh my oh Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou (Chorus) Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and file' gumbo 'Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou Thibodeaux, Fontainenot, the place is buzzin’ Kinfolk come to see Yvonne by the dozen Dress in style and go hog wild, me oh my oh Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou (Chorus) Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and file' gumbo 'Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou Settle down, far from town, get me a pirogue And I’ll catch all the fish in the bayou Swap my mon to buy Yvonne what she need-o Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou (Chorus) Jambalaya and a crawfish pie and file' gumbo 'Cause tonight I’m gonna see my ma cher amio Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-o Son of a gun, we’ll have big fun on the bayou A CAJUN FRENCH VERSION OF THE JAMBALAYA LYRICS: "GOODBY JOE" J'AI POUR ALLEZ, MI-O-MA-Y-O J'AI POUR ALLEZ MOI TOUT SEUL SUR LE BAYOU MA YVONNE, LA PLUS JOLIE SUR LE BAYOU TONNERRE M'ECRASE UN VA AVOIR UN BON TEMP SUR LE BAYOU ----refrain---------- JAMBALAYA, DES TARTES D'ECREUVISSE, FILE GOMBO PAR A SOIR MOI J'VA ALLEZ VOIR MA CHERE AMI-O JOUER L'GUITAR, BOIRE DE LA JOGUE(cruche) ET FAIR DE LA MUSIQUE TOMNNERRE M'ECRASE UN VA AVOIR UN BON TEMP DE SUR LE BAYOU THIBODEAUX, FONTENOT, LA PLACE APRE SONNER CA VIEN "EN TAS" POUR VOIR YVONNE PAR LES DOUZAINES FAIR BIEN L'AMOUR, ET FAIR LE FOU, FAIR LA MUSIQUE TONNERRE M'ECRASE UN VA AVOIR UN BON TEMP Two of the more popular versions of the Jambalaya song that are done in CAJUN FRENCH are as follows: a) Aldus Roger CD "A Cajun Legend" on La Louisianne Record Label LLCD 1007-2 available from www.floydsrecordshop.com or www.lalouisiannerecords.com/laloucat.htm This is an older traditional version in cajun french. b) Joel Sonnier CD "Cajun Life" on Rounder Record Label ROUN3049 Listen to a sample at www.rounder.com/index.php?id=album.php&musicalGroupId=587&catalog_id=4556 This is a more upbeat version of Jambalaya with cajun french lyrics. Please listen to Clarence's Cajun radio program in Baton Rouge. Saturdays 7pm-8pm on WBRH 90.3 FM |