a FRENCH MUSIC article

Cultures of Acadiana
a look at the French, Cajun, Creole, and Native American cultures of south Louisiana
(a project of Carencro High School - 721 West Butcher Switch Road, Lafayette, LA  70507)

Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser, December 29, 1998

lyrics to

J'ETAIS AU BAL


'Tais au bal hier au soir;
J'ai r'venu encore à soir;
Si l'occasion se r'présente.
J' va r'tourner demain au soir.

'Gardez donc la jolie fille,
Cette la que j'aime autant!
Moi, j' connias tout l'amour
Que moie j'ai eu pour toi!

'Tais au bal hier au soir;
Alle était tout habillée en noir,
J'ai fait serment d'jamais r'boire
Pout courtiser ma belle.

'Tais au bal hier au soir;
J' va r'tourner encore à soir;
Si l'occasion se r'présente.
J' va r'tourner demain au soir.

'Gardez donc la jolie fille,
Personne qui veut m'aimer!
'Gardez donc voir si ça fait pas
Misérab' pour moi.

 

I went to the dance last night and I've come again tonight;
If the occasion presents itself again,
I'll come back tomorrow night.

Look at the pretty girl, the one I love so much!
I know all the love I've had for you.

I went to the dance last night; she was all dressed in black.
I promised never to drink anymore
So I could court my girl.

I went to the dance tonight, she's all dressed in blue;
That's the clothing I like
For courting my sweetheart.

I went to the dance last night and I'm going again tonight;
If the occasion presents itself again,
I'll go back tomorrow night.

Look at the pretty girl! No one wants to love me
Look indeed,
If that's not miserable for me.

(Taken from transcription and translation by Raymond E. Françoise in Yé Yaille, Chère, Traditional Cajun Dance Music)

This article is copyrighted © by the Lafayette (LA) Daily Advertiser and is used with permissionThis web site was originated through a grant awarded to Carencro High School (Joel Hilbun/Bobbi Marino, Grant Administrators) by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund - 8(g).