Reggie Matte on accordion, Ken David on fiddle, and Woody Daigle on triangle are shown in the Church Point Mardi Gras band wagon in 2002. The accordiist/vocalist on the 1999 recording llinked below is unidentified.
Embedded Files
A Version of the Traditional
"La Chanson de Mardi Gras,"
Church Point, 1999
The song was recorded in 1999 when the Mardi Gras visited the home of Jim and Betty David just outside of Church Point. Woody Daigle and the Cajun Five played the Mardi Gras song with their wagon parked near a barn while the Mardi Gras danced. Holding a chicken, Jim David stood in front of a barn loft window. As soon as the band stopped, Jim tossed the chicken, and the Mardi Gras scrambled to catch it.
This is the song heard on many Mardi Gras runs across Southwest Louisiana. Versions of it recorded by Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys and by the Balfa Brothers are especially popular. I do not know the name of the accordionist/vocalist who did the version I recorded.
Here is a transcription of the words you will hear, followed by an English translation:
Les Mardi Gras vient de tout partout, tout le tour du moyeu.
Vient une fois par an pour demander la charité
Une vieille patate, une patate et des gratons.
Les Mardi Gras vient de tout partout, tout le tour du moyeu.
Vient une fois par an pour demander la charité
Une vieille patate, une patate et des gratons.
Capitaine, capitaine voyage ton flag, tout le tour du moyeu.
Une fois par an pour demander la charité
Une vieille patate, une patate et des gratons..
Les Mardi Gras vient de l'Angleterre, tout le tour du moyeu.
Vient une fois par an pour demander la charité
Une vieille patate, une patate et des gratons.
The Mardi Gras come from everywhere around the hub.
Once each year to ask for charity
An old potato, a potato and some cracklins.
The Mardi Gras come from everywhere around the hub.
Once each year to ask for charity
An old potato, a potato and some cracklins.
Captain, captain wave your flag, all around the hub.
Once each year to ask for charity.
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