French songs of immigration

Subject: French songs of immigration
From: Marc
Date: 04 May 03 - 04:46 PM

Anyone interested in biting on this. I'm looking for a couple songs (preferably in french) that deal with immigration. Either about leaving France for Canada, or better yet songs about leaving Canada during the 19th century to work in the mills of New England. Any input is appreciated. I don't mind doing the research myself, I'm just not sure where to start, and my french is not quite strong enough to to just go to 'Bibliothéque Folklore' web sites. I've been looking at La Bottine Souriant & La Bolduc lyrics, but I'm either not translating them effectively, or I'm not finding any that deal specifically with taking the trip. Again any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Merci
Marc Bernier

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: kendall
Date: 04 May 03 - 06:41 PM

The Wandering Canadian is a great song. I don't do French at all, but, it is something like Un Canadien errant.

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 04 May 03 - 07:37 PM

How about the Acadians leaving for Louisiana?

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: kendall
Date: 04 May 03 - 08:10 PM

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (local boy) wrote an epic poem titled EVANGELINE about one woman's search for her lover who was kicked out of Acadia.

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: Marc
Date: 05 May 03 - 09:38 PM

Sure Dale. The cajuns were evicted from Canada in 1757. Have you any songs of that period you can suggest. Kendall, perfect, I'd forgotten about that song, as a matter of fact I believe I have a recording of Chanterelle doing Un Canadien Errant. As a matter of fact Chanterelle might be precisely where to look for this material. As far as Evangeline, I agree it's a beautiful piece of writing, but I believe I'm looking for a immigrant's view of immigration, or even a natives view of invasion, other than someone's view of how she might of felt. I'm going to be doing a workshop on immigration song and I'm largly interested in first person accounts, I could be swayed though. Once again any imput is appreciated.

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: delphinium
Date: 06 May 03 - 06:57 PM

Un Canadien Errant is a lovely song but it is really about exile, not emmigration - "banni de ses foyers". It was supposedly inspired by the deportation to Australia of those who were captured (and not hung) following the rebellions of 1837-38 in Upper & Lower Canada.

Sorry I can't be helpful.

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: Marc
Date: 07 May 03 - 09:51 AM

Thanks delphinium.

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: Brían
Date: 07 May 03 - 10:29 AM

This song: BELLE VIRGINIE comes to mind. La Bottine Souriante did a version of it. I think it is an Acadian song. La Bolduc(Mary Travers) wrote her own songs about the difficulties of French Canadians in the 1930's. Ther don't seem to be any about specifically going to N.E. to work in the mills, howver, several of her songs, NOS BRAVES HABIANTS, SANS TRAVAIL and a song titled ROOSEVELT EST UN PEU LÁ(Sorry, no words avaiable) , may be of interest.

Brían

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: Marc
Date: 07 May 03 - 05:18 PM

Thanks Brian;
I'd looked at nos braves habitants, and it holds promise. I'd not seen the others yet though, those look like they may work as well. thanks again

Subject: RE: French songs of immigration
From: CraigS
Date: 07 May 03 - 06:25 PM

It's not quite traditional, but Jean-Jaques Goldman wrote a hit song on the subject called La-Bas, and recorded it as a duet with Sirima. The man's part of the song is saying "I want to go to that free continent with no barriers" , and the woman's part is saying "DOn't go, there are dangers". It only works as a duet - but it is a beautiful song.