Travailler, c'est trop dur, Zachary Richard cover

[Jean Pierre]

I put the French flag because it is a French song but I could have put the USA flag, yes Louisianne if there was one

Ralph Zachary Richard, born September 8, 1950 in Scott, Louisiana, is an American singer-songwriter, singer, guitarist, accordionist, multi-instrumentalist and poet of Acadian and Zydeco music.

Zachary Richard was influenced by two cultures at an early age. First, there is the American popular culture: television, radio and school. Then there is the Cajun culture of his family; his grandparents were the last unilingual French-speaking generation in Louisiana.

After graduating summa cum laude in history from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1972, Zachary Richard moved to New York City to pursue a career as a singer-songwriter. In the early 1970s, he was the first to perform traditional Cajun music in a contemporary style, mixing the music of his grandparents with that of his generation. At the time, there was no audience in Louisiana for this new genre, and he was forced to pursue his career in Quebec and France.

Travailler, c'est trop dur, et voler, c'est pas beau.
D'mander la charit?, c'est qu? qu' chose j'peux pas faire.
Chaque jour que moi j' vis, on m' demande de quoi j'vis.
J' dis que j' vis sur l'amour, et j'esp? re de viv' vieux!

Et je prends mon vieux ch'val, et j'attrap' ma vieille selle
Et je sell' mon vieux ch'val pour aller chercher ma bell'.
Tu connais, c'est loin d'un grand bout d' l?, de
Saint-Antoine? Beaumont
Mais le long du grand Texas, j' l'ai cherch? e bien
longtemps.

Et je prends mon violon, et j'attrap' mon archet,
Et je joue ma vieille valse pour fair' le monde danser.
Vous connaissez, mes chers amis, la vie est bien trop courte
Pour se faire des soucis, alors... allons danser!

Travailler, c'est trop dur, et voler c'est pas beau.
D'mander la charit?, c'est qu? qu' chose j' peux pas faire.
Chaque jour que moi j' vis, on m' demand' de quoi j' vis,
J' dis que j' vis sur l'amour! et j'esp? re de viv' vieux!

Working is too hard, and stealing is not nice.
To ask for charity, that's what I can't do.
Every day I live, people ask me what I live on.
I say I live on love, and I hope I live to be old!

And I take my old horse, and I grab my old saddle
And saddle up my old horse and go get my girl.
You know, it's far from a big piece of land, from
Saint-Antoine? Beaumont
But along the great Texas, I've been looking for it
for a long time.

And I take my fiddle, and I grab my bow,
And I play my old waltz to make the world dance.
You know, my dear friends, life is far too short
To worry about, so... let's go dance!

Working is too hard, and stealing is not nice.
To ask for charity, that's what I can't do.
Every day that I live, people ask me what I live on,
I say I live on love! and I hope to live a long life!

[StephenM]

This is major great stuff.  I kind of think of Greatful Dead when I hear this stuff... I know it is not that but still has that kind of feel to me... and I am sure there are many others... loving that fiddle there too JP...
still the singing is king here...as good as the music is.

as to the story:   "At the time, there was no audience in Louisiana for this new genre, and he was forced to pursue his career in Quebec and France."

I love to hear stories of people who would not let go of their dreams and talents... inspiring

[Rene Asologuitar]

Ralph Zachary Richard, born September 8, 1950 in Scott, Louisiana, is an American singer-songwriter, singer, guitarist, accordionist, multi-instrumentalist and poet of Acadian and Zydeco music.
+++++++++++++++++
Beautiful music, Jean!!!
And your instrumentation and singing is most beloved.
I love the strings!!!
This version is so nice, and Ralph would be proud and happy!!!
Truly fitting homage!
Well done, my friend!!!
Rene

[BerryPatch]

Very interesting to heard of the origins of this song. In Atlantic Canada, we were the homeland of the Acadians and the entire area was pretty much French speaking until the British expelled most of them. After that, many settled in Louisiana. Here in New Brunswick, we still have a large and thriving Acadian culture and and French is still widely spoken in the east and north. Excellent performance, lovely guitar work and vocal harmonies!

[Mike_S]

Feel good stuff JP. A great listen and great to hear those multi part harmonies, it is so uplifting. Some fantastic playing as ever... brilliant.

Mike