Page 43 - Leo Aucoin, Acadian Traditional Singer

ISSUE : Issue 63

Published by Ronald Caplan on 1993/6/1

And we sang all night, till 4 o'clock in the morning. And then she had to take the train in Inverness. So we went, me, and the driver, and her boy friend, and her. We went to Inverness with a half- ton truck. That was in 1944. (And, was there any pay for that?) No. In those days you could sing all night and--I wouldn't charge, anyway, because nobody was paying for it, no. (When you would come to a party there, would most of the other people be able to sing, too?) Well, the ones who were singing--not only me. There was a name, Albert LeBlanc--he's dead now. Dennis Aucoin was a good singer, better than me. He lived right alongside of me. Now he died. Albert LeBlanc was a good singer, too, but not like Dennis. Den? nis was a perfect--and there was no tape in those days. Oh, there was somebody else I chummed with--his name was Freddie LeBlanc--he was a good singer. And his brother Arsfene. {Leo told Rosie, "They were older than me, and they'd come to our house. There was also my eldest brother Freddie, who was a very good singer. Now, he's dead. I learned many songs from him, as he was older than me. The parties we had at home--I was very young, but I guess this was a part of me. The next day I'd whistle and sing little bits of songs. And as I got old? er, I'd learn the whole songs. I'd write them as well.... We could stay up usually, until 10:30 p.m., because we loved it.... We'd stay up, usually, un? til the end of a dance in the house. They'd sing until 3:00, 4:00 a.m. I'd listen to them until midnight, and then I'd fall asleep. The songs were all in my head.) And then there was another one, Leo Poirier, he died. And his son could sing too, but not like his father. But they were pretty good. (I notice that in that list there are no women.) Well, there were some women who were singing, but not like now. Now there's some women that have the good L'Anticosti Ecoutez mes amis La chanson que je vais vous ctianter La chanson voyageur montant dans les chantiers Je vais vous r6citer la misdre que nous avons eut Dans ses profonds sentiers Surtout sur les chevrons. C'est en passant par Rimouski Qu'on s'a fait engager C'est pour Tanticosti a bien fallut monter A bien fallu marcher cinq ou six milles k pied Pour etre bon voyageur 11 faut pas se d6courager. Quand on arrive au camp C'est pas drole de voir cela Les bunks sont fails en planches Les matelas en branches Quand c'est venu pour se coucher Les poux veulent nous d6vorer Faut bien les endurer On a pas d'argent de gagn6. Mais quand viens le dimanche A fallut se laver Et puis laver son Unge Et puis le repasser Si jamais que je peut avoir une femme Pour pouvoir laver mon linge Peut-etre que le dimanche Je pourrais me reposer. Mais quand viens le jour de I'an Le plus beau jour de I'annde Mes parents s'y rassemble Et moi je reste au camp Le showboy, les larmes aux yeux Mais, moi j'en suis pas mieux Assis sur mon sapin Pensant k ma catin. Mais quand viens le printemps On avait tous le coeur content D' avoir de 1' argent de gagn6 Pour pouvoir s'en aUer C'est en passant par Qu6bec A bien fallut se mouiller le bee Au bout d' un mois pass6 On est encore cass6. Maintenant voili ma chanson C'est moi qui la compos6e Vous me connaissez bien Mon nom, je suis AuCoin Je suis Leo AuCoin De la paroisse de Ch6ticamp Qui pr6ffere mieux les filles Que ses maudits chevrons. 1 THE COMPOSER IS ANOT L'Anticosti 1 Listen my friends The song that I'm going to sing The voyaging song whUe going up to the sites I'm going to recite to you the troubles that we had In these major trails Especially under the wooden coverings It's while passing through Rimouski We hired We had to move to 1' Anticosti We had to walk for five to six miles To l)e a good voyager You can not get discouraged. When we arrived at the camp It was not funny to see this The bunks were made of planks The mattresses made of branches When it was time to go to bed The lice had a huge appetite We had to endure As we had not made any money yet. When Sunday arrives We had to wash ourselves We had to wash our clothes Then iron them If I ever find myself a woman Who could wash my clothes Maybe on Sundays I could get some rest. When New Year's Day arrives The nicest day of the year My family gets together I remain at camp The showboy, with tears in his eyes I'm no better off Sitting on a pine Missing my doll. When comes the spring We had such contented hearts After having made some money So we can all go home It was by passing through Quebec We had to quench our thirst After a month had past We were again broke. Now, here is my song It's me that composed it You all know me well My name, it is AuCoin I am Leo AuCoin From the parish of Chdticamp Who prefers the young girls To those blasted wooden coverings. HER LEO AUCOIN! | MARCO V HEARING HEALTH CENTRE • Audiological evaluations • Most technologically advanced computerized test equipment • Hearing aids - customized to individual losses • Extensive assessment and counselling - before and after the hearing aid fitting • No referrals necessary • DVA taps cards accepted 295 George St., Suite 302 Sydney, N. S. 567-2929 or Toll Free 1-800-667-2929 OdJIia MacDonald, M.Sc. Aud. (C) Audiologist Janet Thompson, B.A., B.B.A Hearing Inst. Specialist

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