Balfa Brothers - La Dance Des Mardi Gras - Slide show

[54321Rambler]

This definitely has to be one of my favourite Cajun tracks although I can scarcely understand a word they are singing.

[nolanisha]

its actually chanson de les mardi gras ~ the songs of mardi gras. not dance :)

[demilanoNS]

Like this music ... realy :)

[tokkeification]

long live the cajun music

[irishxxkelt]

This was used in an ad on Irish television about 20 years ago. I would love to have the lyrics

[minnomouse1]

@irishxxkelt me too

[irishxxkelt]

@minnomouse1 If you ask Scrambler very nicely he might send the lyrics in French(naturally) to you. If you have basic French you can understand what the song is about.

[Inertiatrajectory]

haha just moved away from Breaux Bridge I miss my cajun pals!!! :( être bien en Louisiane!

[gratefultiger]

i am an aussie cajun lover great stuff.

[DameianBoudreaux]

J'aime être un cajun. nous avons de grandes choses dans la culture ur.

[NoldorianElf]

I love this song since that epic scene in "Passion Fish" Alfre Woodward, Mary McDonnell and David Strathairn had that boat tour through a bayou of Louisiana. One of the unusual excellent US-movies. Telling a good and credible story in an unostentatious clear language. And the music is the chili on top,

[anglinthemtns]

Super duper! Very enjoyable.

[killutilludi]

i am english i went into the store HMV asked for the balfa bros they never heard of them shamefull man i cant believe such a talent has been sheltered from the unaware british public ffs sort it out love them love the music is well cool

[gearoiddom]

@killutilludi I hear you. Over here in Ireland, one is also cursed with musical taste rather than blessed with it.

[gabgab162]

im puuuuureeee cajun and i kno dis song by ma heart stayin in lousiana foever best place for cajuns, no?

[darksideoffroad]

I love this version of the Mardi Gras song

[Aerohog1]

Balfa brothers are the real deal, not the Bo-so-lay NPR darlings.

[Jurbaga]

Happy Mardi Gras! ;D

[ChampagneCraig]

Thanks for posting the chords!

This song is on this CD. Lots of other Cajun fiddle songs there.

Balfa Brothers Play Traditional Cajun Music. 60 minutes 24 selections

[ChampagneCraig]

Could a music guru post the guitar chords to this song? I know it starts with a G chord.

Thanks.

[hounddig]

@ChampagneCraig I'd gladly trade you friend - i've been looking for these lyrics in english for awhile!

G, Bflat, Dflat7 then G, Bflat, Dmaj. The 5th line he goes to bflat on the word ' all' then on the 6th line switches to d on the word ' gumbo ' Thanks. Great song. My friend has been playing bluegrass fiddle for 30 yrs and wants to learn cajun style and Dewey is great. Any other suggestions for cajun fiddle players?

[ChampagneCraig]

Captain, Captain wave your flag.

Let’s go to the other neighbor’s place,

To ask for Charity.

You all come meet us,

You all come meet us,

Yes, at the Gumbo tonight.

[ChampagneCraig]

The Mardi Gras riders are on a long voyage.

All around, around the hub.

The pass once a year,

To ask for charity,

Even if it’s a skinny chicken,

And three or four corn cobs.

[ChampagneCraig]

Translation

The Mardi Gras riders come from everywhere.

All around, around the hub.

They pass once a year,

To ask for Charity.

Even if it’s a potato,

A potato and some cracklins.

[minnomouse1]

@ChampagneCraig ty for this

[ChampagneCraig]

Le Mardi Gras sont sur un grand voyage Tout le tour, le tour de moyeu Ca passe une fois par an Demander la charite Quand meme si c’est une poule maigre Et trois ou quatre coton mais Capitaine, Capitaine voyage ton flag Allons chez l’autre voisin Demander la charite Pour vous autres venir nous joindre Ouais, au gombo ce soir.

[ChampagneCraig]

I thought this would be a good time to re-post the complete lyrics of this song. This is directly from the CD jacket.

La Danse de Mardi Gras

Le Mardi Gras vient de tout partout

Tout le tour, le tour de moyeu

Ca passe une fois par an

Demander la charite

Quand meme si c’est une patate

Une patate et de gratons

[speeches]

Hungry? 

[southgent22]

Is there a place that has the lyrics translated? Google failed me earlier. My French is beyond rusty, it sounds like dat dere fiddle. Greetings from Lafayette!! Dat water needs to warm up cher, them crawfish gonna be late and high priced this year!

[Istaysmoking]

the song transcends genre or classification and language, any of that....this is just an amazing song.

[xeroxe]

wow trop bon ,longue vie au frère Balfa

[91stalingrad]

Vivement la langue française d'Amérique !!

Louisiane, Québec, Acadie ne mourront jamais !!

[ernstbecker1]

@91stalingrad Vive les Quebecois !

[tilleypete4]

we do translation and you can select Latino women **rockmycity.info**

[cindyao]

C'EST SI BON!!

[hydfawr]

Magnificent!!

[littlebigbrain]

one mean fiddle player was Dewey Balfa.

[ArnoldVeeman]

S-U-P-E-R-B

that sound drives me nuts! it's unique!

[yeahright73]

Nice to see this stuff on here. I was turned on to the Balfa Brothers music years ago by Steve LaFleur of Mamou, and I'm glad of it. These songs are just incredible!

[plt3012]

Great stuff. I was in the Marines with a lad by the name of LaCaze. This was his music. Semper Fi!

[hydfawr]

@plt3012 Good Luck to You and Yours!!

[SCRAMBLER390]

Thanks. The title is the way The Balfa Brothers spelled it on their record that I have. Their spelling NOT mine.

[blafleur886]

@SCRAMBLER390 Don't worry, they're wrong with that correction. There is nothing wrong with this spelling like you have it. It is sometimes referred to as "Mardi Gras" dance because it the song played for the dance done at each house stop on the run.

[SCRAMBLER390]

Thanks. The title is the way The Balfa Brothers spelled it on their record that I have. This is the way THEY spelled it so thats the way I spell it. It's their title, not mine.

[rgbuffington]

Wow, how this song brings back good memories!

[wis78rpm]

The guitar line is an homage to Luther Perkins circa 1963. Awesome

[AMULET72]

@wis78rpm SOUNDS THAT WAY.....BOOM CHICKA BOOM CHICKA.

LOVE THE TRIANGLE TOO

[worotan]

Hearing the Balfor Brothers beguiled me into this beautiful music. Makes my heart sway in time.

[moovgirl]

I loved this song from long, long ago. And used to play over and over again!

[VictrolaJazz]

They are the Cajun counterpart to early Rock n Rollers!

[Crazydog7]

Thanks for posting this.

[ScOoTeRrGiRl3]

Hurray for coonass's!!!!

[rowanirish]

I've been looking for this song for AGES. It was used in a Carling beer Commercial in Ireland sometime during the 1990's. I love it.

[DutchManley52]

Balfa Brothers are true pioneers of American Music

[2stupid2puke]

Les Mardi Gras ça vient de tout partout

Tout l'autour au tour du moyen

Ça passe un fois par ans

Demander la charité

Quand même si c'est une patate

Une patate et des gratins

[cjleger337]

And might I add that this song gives me chills everytime i hear it. It's a shame people my age are embarrassed by our great culture now.

[cjleger337]

This is the REAL Mardi Gras, where you go around begging for for to make a gumbo from the locals.. anyone who says they can drink should go to one of these, drinking all day and all you get is a boiled egg and a link of boudin to eat all day!

[cjleger337]

This is the REAL Mardi Gras, where you go around begging for for to make a gumbo from the locals.. anyone who says they can drink should go to one of these, drinking all day and all you get is a boiled egg and a link of boudin to eat all day!

[denisproteor]

Y a pas cinq fois demander la charité...

[Galeande]

CAJUN and ALL FRANCOPHONE CULTURES UNITED!!! Binjour d'Afrique les amis! ;)

[petrasiq]

magnifique ! cette musique est comme une goutte de sang dans mes veines

[PhilosophicalViking]

Now this is music..!!!

[2stupid2puke]

Thank god this music is on here!

[southcoastdub]

This song IS MARDI GRAS, and not that new orleans crap

[bangwezl]

I don't remember much French from my childhood, but I don't need ANYTHING to love the Balfa brothers. This is SO good...

[GermBritScotsIrish15]

I was born in Ohio from and English/American mother and I love it here with the forests and lake/rivers. It is always nice to get back to your roots and spend some time out of doors with God and his creation. (btw I am catholic too!!)

[sbd650]

5*****!

[TheElfowl]

I LOVE that song...especially since they used for a beautiful scene in the movie "Passion Fish"!!!

[lorider1201]

Allons de Mardi Gras

[Cajunlady02]

Great song

[rockinvp92]

MARDI GRAAAAAS!!!!!! Who dat!!

[rosswhit119]

Best song EVER!!!!!!

[tom10thumb]

I heard them perform live, I believe in the late 70's in a performance space on East Eight Street in the Lower East Side. They were amazing to watch live. What a treat to hear music like that.

[hussar01]

I'm British but I love music and I love Cajun, would love to visit the home of Cajun music but times are hard so I will just keep listening eh?

[ls1z28chris]

@hussar01

I hope you get the chance. I was born in New Orleans, live in Atlanta, and go back down to the swamps every chance I get. I love that damn place. You'll fall in love, too.

[ErikH225]

@hussar01 If you ever do get the chance, I guarantee you'll love it ;-)

I'm a 25 year Louisiana native, and to this day, this state and the culture and people of it still amaze me on a regular basis. I couldn't live anywhere else.

[fleurdeweed]

@hussar01 you should check out steve riley and the mamou playboys....they have the version of this song that i grew up running mardi gras to

[jpm1]

@hussar01 What comes around goes around!

[AngelusDlion]

@hussar01 Hey, in my experience when times are hard is the best time to listen to Cajun music. A culture that can do so much with so little has a  lot of lessons to teach, no?

[NovemberSong28th]

@hussar01 Watch out Hussar, I married into a Cajun family, and once you get into the "Frenchy country" of Louisiana, you'll never want to leave!

[cjleger337]

@hussar01 lol wish your ancestors would have thought this way...

[paulleboe]

Dewey Balfa and family ,great Cajun musicians. Too bad they are not with us today. Thier soulful music reminds me of my younger days on Bayou Lafourche at my grandmother's house when we would gather round her Victrola record playerto listen to them and other great cajun musicians.

Paul LeBoeuf

[Mamougator]

great stuff, cant wait for another Mamou Mardi Gras

[floridapmi]

@Mamougator Je vais chasser les poulets à Mamou, cette année, n'ont pas été en temps, mais je suis impatient d'y être.

[rve61]

Two items French language is taught k-12 and Cajun French is an older form of French The older 50's era cajuns like the Balfa brother's is in this type of French.That's why so many translation failure's happen . Long live real cajun music Video response you would have done better with metallica thats about how much you have in common with the Balfa brothers.

[evilmick66]

I love the sad sounding melody. All other cajun songs I've listened to so far were jolly party tunes, so this is really different for me. It's nice. Are there any other good cajun songs with a melody like this?

[stevegale1948]

Just get some more of these guys or try balfa brothers in last fm

Iry Lejeunne worth a listen too ps this is from an englishman

[lisnorrog]

bosco stomp

[alexisehs08]

It's not a sad song at all. It's about going around collecting things to make a big gumbo. Modern TRADITIONAL Mardi Gras parades are representative of that. But we mostly just get trashed. It's awesome.

[evilmick66]

Yeah I learned that from looking up lyrics. But the melody of it still sounds very sad and haunting. I like it.

[moovgirl]

Awesome violin! Great song.

[ArnoldVeeman]

Great song! Sticks in my brain forever...

[griswold2004]

It was on the Carling Black Label ad in the UK in the eighties That's where I heard this first.

[Mamougator]

I love this sog

[orlando531]

love this music thanks 4 posting it.....

[Cypho51]

Putain que c'est bon...

[tobarrr]

Do take a look at the video response by meanfidler, it's veryverygood.

[ralphzachary]

Le maître

[dascajunsha]

I am a nurse and I was with Dewey Balfa when he passed away in the Eunice hospital. I knew Mr Dewey well and he is surely missed, along with his great personality and music. A part of our cajun culture went with him.........

God Bless you Dewey

[CadjinGisclair]

He seemed like a great man! He not only did a lot to preserve our music, but I've seen him in multiple documentaries about our beautiful language! I am a young French-speaking Cajun from Lafourche Parish, and I'm so proud to have been born into this rich culture!

[swings49]

J'adore

[Dontgupt208]

I just love this song.!!!!!

[dupleix50]

C'est bon de vous entendre,

continuez, vous etes notre fierté!

Ouest de la France

[John41tube]

Reminds me of a drink add.

[paulosham]

yeah it was on an add in the eighties, not sure what add though.

[polick11]

trés bon morceaux,,,, j 'adore ,,,merci

sud de la france

[ol49rrrrr]

I'm too lazy to read through all the post to see if this was mentioned elsewhere but Zachary Richard also recorded this song. First time I hear of the Balfa Brothers but I'll be checking them out.

[jan1035]

merveilleux!!!!

[PatriciaPenna]

Oh God i can't stop hear this music !

It's simple and amasing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

GREAT !

[gazzi22]

i need a translation si vous plait! I forgot alot!

[Spatcher]

Check my above posts, I translated it.

[johnnydiva]

the title is mispelled in French. It should be "la danse de mardi gras."

[SCRAMBLER390]

Thanks. The title is the way The Balfa Brothers spelled it on their record that I have.

[johnnydiva]

yeah, a lot of Cajun spelling isn't standard French because since most Francophones weren't permitted to speak French in public schools, they also didn't learn to read it either, or they came from impoverished families who had little to no education past grammar school.

[Spatcher]

But it's still a French language, so you can write it out using standard French words and spellings. Regardless by doing this you loose traditional accents unless you give a pronunciation guide before you start typing, but you can still do it.

[CadjinGisclair]

On est bien fier de notre patois français! =D

[ErnstBecker]

I have forgotten my French. Please excuse my ignorance; however, did you say, "northen Patois Francese"? So long ago ..........

[Elphir]

@SCRAMBLER390

I think that's a very interesting representation of the state of French in the state of Louisiana. They don't really remember how to read or write French properly, which makes it all the more interesting and beautiful!

[Ultraroyaliste]

@Elphir Cadiens speak a different, older dialect than revolutionised Parisian French. Your ideas about 'proper French' are completely impertinent to the subject of français cadien.

[Elphir]

@Ultraroyaliste I guess that's true (I mean, Québéc French is sometimes also unintelligible for Metropolitian Francophones). On the other hand, the Cajun language has probably been influenced by English, Spanish and native Indian languages, right? Correct me if I'm wrong, please.

[Ultraroyaliste]

@Elphir Only a little bit by English, but not quite as much as the Québécois or the Acadiens in Canada, especially those who speak wretched 'Chiac.' The Spanish really didn't have much of an influence on us as they did with the Créoles, as evidenced by the architecture in New Orléans. African and Indian languages did throw in a few nouns here and there, but the language has by no means become revolutionised or anything by this.  It is still Cadien French and not a hybrid or a créole dialect.

[liliodine]

@Ultraroyaliste What is Chiac and how is that pronounced? Not familiar with that term. Is it another dialect?

[Ultraroyaliste]

@liliodine Chiac is a part-French slang dialect full of English words and phrases and grammatical structures. It is popular amongst some of the Acadian youth in Moncton and Shédiac, New Brunswick, and is used on the television show 'Acadieman.' It is not a dialect of Acadian French, but a mutated half-Acadian half-English youth slang language. Many Acadians aren't very pleased about it; it only exists because some Acadians have embraced Anglophone mass media culture.

[liliodine]

@Ultraroyaliste Thanks for the info. I had no idea it was so complex. Very interesting.

[phillipknapp]

@SCRAMBLER390 Cajun french has a different evolution from all the french out their. I'm from Quebec and my grand father is acadian from Les Iles de la Madeleine and thats 2 different kinds of french in the same province. Even France doesn't know their french, it's all englishafied ... So It's actually La danse du mardi gras ...

[SCRAMBLER390]

@phillipknapp Thanks. The title is the way The Balfa Brothers spelled it on their record that I have.

[No1HillBilly]

@johnnydiva Cajun French is not the same as

parisian French,much the same as American English differs from the Queens English,& the English spoken in Australia,New Zealand,South Africa,India,etc.,Please remember that living languages are always changing.Here in Ky. you can tell which holler a person comes from by the manner of their speech,even though they all speak English.

[phillipknapp]

@johnnydiva its actually La danse DU Mardi Gras...

[SCRAMBLER390]

@phillipknapp

1 minute ago Thanks. The title is the way The Balfa Brothers spelled it on their record that I have. This is the way THEY spelled it so thats the way I spell it. It's their title, not mine

[KatieRose1983]

The Balfa brothers were great musicians. My husband is actually a cousin of thiers, and I am related to them by marriage on one of thier wives sides.We live in Ville Platte Lousiana.This is the area where they originated from. The last living of thier brothers Mr.Inis Bolfa passed away not to long ago. They are sadly missed.

[KatieRose1983]

Mardi Gras is a big trip All turn around the way It's once a year Ask the charity Even if it is a lean chicken And three, four cotton-corn Captain, Captain trip your flag Let 'the other' neighbor Ask the charity For them other 'come r'joindre Autr them 'come r'joindre Yeah the ball tonight

[Spatcher]

Here is what you should have written: Mardi Gras comes from all around All around to the hub (moyen = hub, as in meeting place) It comes once a year Asking for charity, Even if it's a potato A potato and cracklin's The Mardi-Gras goers are on a big trip (same 3 lines as the previous verse) Even if it's a lean chicken And three or four corncobs

[Spatcher]

Here is the last translated verse since it was too long

Captain captain raise your flag

Let's go to the other neighbor

Asking for charity

For them to come join us

Them to come and join us

At the gumbo tonight

[fixintofiddle]

I just discovered the Balfa Brothers and I can't get enough!!!! Can you please translate the lyrics for me?

[michael1221988]

Les Mardi Gras ça vient de tout partout

Tout l'autour au tour du moyen

Ça passe un fois par ans

Demander la charité

Quand même si c'est une patate

Une patate et des gratins

[michael1221988]

es Mardi Gras sont su' un grand voyage Tout l'tour autour du moyen Ça passe un fois par ans Demander la charité Quand même si c'est une poule maigre Et trois, quatre coton d'maïs Capitain, capitain voyage ton flag Allons su' l'autr' voisin Demander la charité Pour eux autr' venir nous r'joindre Eux autr' venir nous r'joindre Ouais au bal pour ce soir

[william3701]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

[Spatcher]

The Steve Riley version says "au bal" in the last verse, but the Balfa's says "au gumbo ce soir".

[CadjinGisclair]

J'aime bien la version par le Band Cadjin de LaFourche (the Lafourche Cajun Band)..Mon cousin Royce Naquin a joué cette chanson.

Ta besoin d'acheter leur CD, dude!

[spardafolken]

Great

Use to hear this song from my mother when I was young!!! years ago!

My mother grew up in Le Berry (French County)..

And I have heard it this way at Randol's in Lafayette... By the Freres Michot band.

GREAT and AWESOME.

[bassfishers]

tres biens mes amis au canada norte canajans.

[chukcanuk]

laissez les bon temps roulez toujours...

[gluebagbaby]

love this song.i listen to the balfa brothers each day as i deliver mail in northern ireland.wonder what they would think of that,their music travels well and is timeless.

[SissieO]

My absolute FAVORITE Mardi Gras song. Loved dressing up as a kid and riding along. I miss home so much, but look forward to going home for Mardi Gras every year (and never miss a Saturday morning pre-party at Fred's in Mamou!)

[MsAnthrope2008]

Aiiieee! Great video!

[MsAnthrope2008]

Oops! Make that great _slideshow_!

[cajunmart]

absolutely love this one, awesome

[jorgi77777]

Man does this bring back memories. As a child

we ran Mardi Gras in full costume on the back of wagons - stopping at farms begging for nickels or something from the farm to make gumbo with. Later in the day we would gather 100's of us and listen to chanky chanck music and eat chicken gumbo.

[1polonium210]

I grew up in Opelousas. Although I partied at Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Lafayette, I always enjoyed the Courir de Mardi Gras the most.

[popeye2cv]

Pure Cajun , what more can one say?

[sospello]

This is a great Cajun song and contrary to what anyone says can be played at a rip-snorting tempo that would wake the dead. I am glad for the nostalgia trip and would appreciate anyone who has the lyrics to post them. I can make out some but my memory is not good enough to remember the whole thing. Merci de tout coeur!

[lelookcoco]

Does anyone know the TV ad this music appeared in? Beer I think.

[chrisgitsy]

it was used at the end of a episode of the sopranos

[josiejo5]

It was for beer, Carling Black Label. Sometime in the early 90's I think.

[JTrahanUSA]

Home! This is home! So real and so missed. Wonderful, wonderful music.

[supergwats]

great slide show, tks for posting. this is a march/promenade piece that the balfa bros made famous, written for the custom of going house to house seeking bits and pieces of mardi gras fete, such as goods for a stew, ribbon banners, etc. old traditional song that balfas made their own.

[Erik113091]

Oooooh. . . Great song. NOT This sounds like a funeral dirge, compared to the lively music of NORMAL Mardi Gras Songs. . .

[mkr8683]

If you understood the words, this song is anything but a dirge. Its words exhort the riders to go to each neighbor for 'charity', even for a potato or some gratons. This old Cajun tradition IS the NORMAL Mardi Gras. This song is also a derivative of a medieval song from France, an echo of the tradition carried out in those times. Before you pass judgment on our Cajun culture, at least know what you're talking about.

[Erik113091]

Zzzzzz....... Sorry, what? I fell asleep... Spare me the history lecture, I've heard enough of 'em from my mother, one of the few French teachers in Tangipahoa Parish. . . But anywho. . . Mardi Gras songs need to have more cheerful tunes, things people can hum along to, even totally innebriated. NOT something one could with THIS. . . Song, I'm sure.

[mkr8683]

Well, live and let live I guess. I'll stick with our old Cajun traditions, and you can stick with the contemporary Mardi Gras. You're not kidding about the liveliness of the modern festivities, though! But if you know the history, then you should understand what it's all about. No hard feelings, and I wish you well, mon ami. And you'd be surprised at how well any good coonass could remember a song like this, totally inebriated!

[Erik113091]

I guess the coonasses "'round these here parts" are more "rednecky" than yours! lol

[Sifirela]

Some one needs to slap you, pure and simple.

[mairabella]

I agree that the old Cajun traditions are the best and the purest and would love someday to be a part of that beautiful culture. You're lucky you were born a Cajun.

[mairabella]

These idiots comment and don't know who they're commenting on! Thats the great Dewey Balfa and the most beautiful music and culture there is!I'm not Cajun, but wish I was and this Mardi Gras song is the best one ever recorded and gives me goose bumps. Erik,I would love to learn French and you need to open your mind!

[monkeynutvw]

great thanks for posting