​How are sociocultural themes expressed in zydeco and Cajun music?

D.L Menard, photo by Dewey Balfa. Arhoolie Records.

Heartache, Suffering & Resilience: Sociocultural Themes in Cajun & Zydeco

MUSIC LISTENING

15 MIN

20+ MIN

30+ MIN

Dewey Balfa, unknown photographer. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

MUSIC LISTENING

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS

Listening for Heartache & Suffering

Path 1

15 minutes

Dennis McGee, photo by Chris Strachwitz. Arhoolie Records.

Heartache and Suffering in Waltzes
The Sounds of Sadness

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.

Interpreting Meaning: A Cajun Waltz

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.

"O Malheureuse" (Oh, Miserable One)

"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.

• As you listen, follow along with the English translation of the lyrics:

Listen Again ...

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

The "Cajun Yell"

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.

Optional Discussion

Can you think of any other songs that you have heard in this pathway that exemplify this theme (heartache/suffering/loneliness)?

Learning Checkpoint

• Apart from lyrics, what are some ways that Cajun and zydeco musicians express these themes?

• What are the most common sociocultural themes in Cajun and zydeco music?

End of Path 1: Where will you go next?

Listening for Resilience

Path 2

20+ minutes

UAS Flower Sprout Snow, by Christopher Sessums, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Attentive Listening: Example 1

• 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?

Example 1: "Les Flammes d'Enfer"
                                   (The Flames of Hell)

• 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.

Attentive Listening: Example 2

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.

Example 2: "Parlez Nous à Boire"                        (Talk to us About Drinking)

• It could be considered a “drinking song”
• Consider the lyrics: "O parlez-nous à boire, non pas du mariage" which means, "speak to us about drinking, not about marriage."

The lyrics to this song discuss another common theme in Cajun music: Drinking and domestic strife.

Discussion Question

Was your original guess regarding the meaning of these songs correct?

Deceptive Dances:
Songs that Sound Happy, but Speak of Suffering

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 is Resilience?

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.

According to the Dictionary ... 

"Joie de Vivre" (Zest for Life)

• 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!

Generally Speaking .....

Optional Discussion

Can you think of any other songs that you have heard in this pathway that exemplify resilience?

Learning Checkpoint

• How do Cajun and zydeco musicians illustrate resilience through their music?

End of Path 2: Where will you go next?

"Jambalaya" vs. "Grand Texas"

Path 3

30+ minutes

Grand Texas, cover art by Elizabeth Weil. Arhoolie Records.

Jambalaya

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.

"Jambalaya," the Song

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.

Hank Williams

He released the song “Jambalaya” (also known as “On the Bayou”) shortly before he died (1952).

• Many other musicians have released “covers” of this song. Advance to the next slide to listen to one.

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.

• He is known as the “Father of Country and Western Music."

Attentive Listening

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.

"Jambalaya": Optional Extension Activities

1. Listen to (and sing along with) Hank Williams’s original recording of “Jambalaya” (On the Bayou).
2. Conduct an in-depth analysis of the song lyrics and their cultural references.
3. Compare and contrast different arrangements of this song (visit the Smithsonian Folkways website, where you will find many other renditions).

Engaged Listening: "Jambalaya"

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.

"Grand Texas"

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.

Engaged Listening: "Grand Texas"

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.

• Consider adding rhythmic ostinati and instruments to this activity.

Comparing Song Lyrics

What are some differences in song topics/themes?

Take a closer look at the song lyrics for “Jambalaya” and “Grand Texas.”

Contrasting Themes

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.

More Fun Facts

“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.”

Closing Discussion

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)

Learning Checkpoint

• 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?

End of Path 3 and Lesson Hub 9: Where will you go next?

Lesson Hub 9 Media Credits

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.