How are sociocultural themes expressed in Cajun and zydeco music?
D.L Menard, photo by Dewey Balfa. Arhoolie Records.
Dewey Balfa, unknown photographer. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
15 minutes
Dennis McGee, photo by Chris Strachwitz. Arhoolie Records.
This recurring theme can be understood as the musical embodiment of the hardships that have been endured by Cajuns and Creoles throughout history.
As you may have already noticed, the lyrics of many Cajun and zydeco songs commonly discuss instances of heartache and suffering (e.g., lost love, being mistreated by a loved one, etc.).
This theme is particularly common in waltzes.
Watch this video, in which the Balfa Brothers play a Cajun waltz and reflect upon its meaning:
Cajun Waltz, performed by Dewey Balfa & the Balfa Brothers. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
"Oh, unhappy girl, dear little girl,
You have left me to go away, so far away.
Look now, unhappy girl, You're hurting me.
Unhappy girl, Why do you treat me this way, if not for your mother?"
Let’s listen to another song that exemplifies this theme, recorded by Cajun legend, Dennis McGee.
What do you notice about Dennis McGee’s vocal style?
If you didn’t know what the lyrics meant, would you still know that this song is sad? Why?
Text
I’d like to say this . . . It moves you and it builds up in you, and if you don’t let it out, it’s just going to smother you! You gotta let it out, and then when you do that, you relieve the pressure.
The vocal style and fiddle sounds heard on this recording are the sonic embodiment of loneliness.
According to Cajun musician Dewey Balfa, the recognizable "Cajun yell" vocal technique (heard on this recording and many others) reflects the strong effect that music can have on people. He stated:
Dewey Balfa, by Camilla Smith. Folkways Records.
Can you think of any other songs that you have heard in this pathway that exemplify this theme (heartache/suffering/loneliness)?
20+ minutes
UAS Flower Sprout Snow, by Christopher Sessums, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
Do the music elements and/or expressive qualities give you clues about the song’s meaning? (tempo, timbre, dynamics, articulation, etc.) Write down your ideas.
Cajun Social Music, cover art by Nancy Jean Anderson, photo by Philip Gould. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.
Listen to an excerpt from this classic Cajun tune.
What is the general feeling of this song?
What do you think this song might be about?
Some might say this lightly touches on the theme of religious suffering . . . something the Catholic Cajuns knew much about.
In the 18th Century, the Cajuns were exiled from their home in Acadia (present-day Nova Scotia) by the Protestant English.
This song lightly introduces the theme of suffering in the context of spending an eternity in hell. We don't know what the singer has done to be condemned, but his despair is all-encompassing.
What is the general feeling of this song?
What do you think this song might be about?
Listen to an excerpt from another classic Cajun tune:
Do the music elements and/or expressive qualities give you clues about the song’s meaning? (tempo, timbre, dynamics, articulation, etc.)
Write down your ideas.
The lyrics to this song discuss another common theme in Cajun music: Drinking and domestic strife.
Was your original guess regarding the meaning of these songs correct?
However, the lyrical themes and music elements/expressive qualities often contradict each other in Cajun and zydeco songs.
As musicians and listeners, we often look to the musical elements and expressive qualities to help us understand the meaning of a song.
Because the musical sounds are often upbeat and the lyrics are in French, most people never notice how sad a song really is.
What does the term “resilience” mean to you?
The musical contradictions that are often present in Cajun and zydeco music illustrate an important part of Cajun and Creole cultural identity: resilience.
Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties (toughness . . . The ability to “bounce back”).
The music encourages people to dance and shake off their troubles.
The sad songs we listened to sound upbeat because they employ the spirit of “joie de vivre” (zest for life) that is often reflected in Cajun and zydeco music.
Cajun and Creole musicians take pride in their ability to take songs with sad themes and turn them into upbeat, danceable numbers (two-steps).
Even when a song is depressing, the musical atmosphere often feels like a party!
Can you think of any other songs that you have heard in this pathway that exemplify resilience?
30+ minutes
Grand Texas, cover art by Elizabeth Weil. Arhoolie Records.
Virtually any combination of meats or seafood may be used, along with the usual seasoning vegetables (onion, celery, bell pepper), as well as ham or sausage. Just before the sauce is done, the chef adds raw or partially cooked rice to the pot to create a hearty and richly flavored experience.
Mmm... Jambalaya, by jeffreyw, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
Jambalaya is one of the most popular traditional Louisiana dishes.
Who was Hank Williams?
Hank Williams Wearing a Houndstooth Jacket and Holding a Guitar, unknown photographer. Alabama Department of Archives and History.
Many people think of Hank Williams’s famous song, “Jambalaya,” when they think of “Cajun” music.
He released the song “Jambalaya” (also known as “On the Bayou”) shortly before he died (1952).
Hank Williams Wearing a Pinstripe Suit and Smiling, unknown photographer. Alabama Department of Archives and History.
Hank Williams (1923–1953) was an important American singer-songwriter.
Have you ever heard this song before?
What type of music is this?
Why do you think this song became a “hit”?
Happy Woman Blues, cover art by Ronald Clyne. Folkways Records..
Listen to an excerpt from a cover of “Jambalaya,” released by Lucinda Williams in 1979.
As you follow along with the lyrics to this song, try to sing along (with Lucinda Williams or any other version of “Jambalaya” that you like).
As you sing, try to incorporate the vocal style/inflections of the singer(s) on the recording.
Optional: add rhythmic ostinati and instruments to this activity.
What type of music is this?
How is this song similar to “Jambalaya”
How is it different?
Next, listen to an excerpt from a tune called “Grand Texas,” recorded by Chuck Guillory and Papa Cairo.
Do you prefer “Jambalaya” or “Grand Texas?” Why?
As you follow along with the lyrics to “Grand Texas,” try to sing (or hum) along.
As you sing, try to incorporate the vocal style/inflections of the singer(s) on the recording.
What are some differences in song topics/themes?
Take a closer look at the song lyrics for “Jambalaya” and “Grand Texas.”
Guillory's lyrics and minimal and sparse, whereas Williams's are detailed and contain many different verses – which points to a difference in songwriting styles and use of language between Cajun and country music.
“Jambalaya” depicts the Cajun "way of life" and their joie de vivre in an explicit and detailed way, while “Grand Texas” exemplifies a different common theme in traditional Cajun music: heartache and suffering.
The lyrics to “Grand Texas” are meaningful for Cajuns . . . especially considering that throughout (and after) the Great Depression and WWII, many Cajuns were forced to leave their homes in southwest Louisiana to find work in Texas oil fields . . . Work at home was hard to find.
“Jambalaya” brought important awareness of Cajuns and their culture into the “mainstream.”
This song is now known and loved by people the world over.
It also sparked a true exchange of musical ideas between country and Cajun artists.
Many Cajun and zydeco artists have recorded their own “covers” of the song “Jambalaya.”
Do you agree or disagree? Why?
Consider this quote:
Ethnic music is usually unpalatable for a mass market unless it is diluted in some way. The broader audience related to ‘Jambalaya' in a way that it could never relate to a true Cajun two-step led by an asthmatic accordion and sung in patois.
(Escott, Merritt, & MacEwen, 2004, p. 214)
What types of factors shape our musical preferences?
What is the difference between the message of “Grand Texas” and “Jambalaya”?
How are the songwriting styles of Cajun and country music different?
Audio courtesy of
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Video courtesy of
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Images courtesy of
Alabama Department of Archives and History
The Arhoolie Foundation
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
© 2022 Smithsonian Institution. Personal, educational, and non-commercial uses allowed; commercial rights reserved. See Smithsonian terms of use for more information.
This Lesson was funded in part by the Grammy Museum Grant and the Smithsonian Youth Access Grants Program, with support from the Society for Ethnomusicology and the National Association for Music Education.
For full bibliography and media credits, see Lesson 9 landing page.