Mon petit gars (MS2011-3222-005)

Mon petit gars (MS2011-3222-005)

Mon p'tit gars

Sonny Boy

French language song text from VFC2006-0002 Beaudoin Family Collection. MS2011-3222-005 Eva Lacourse Songbook. Pp. 10-12.

Scope and Contents Note:

Strophic song, two verses with one refrain after first verse

MS2011-322-005 “Mon petit gar” [“Mon petit gars”; “My Little Kid”] is a French-language translation of the sentimental hit song "Sonny Boy,“ written and composed by Al Jolson, Ray Henderson, Bud De Sylva, and Lew Brown ca. 1927. The song appeared on the 1928 sound film The Singing Fool, which featured Broadway singing sensation Jolson (1886-1950). His recording of the song that same year was a hit, stayed at #1 for 12 weeks in the charts, and was a million seller.

“Mon p’tit gars” is the work of songwriter, composer, pianist, and recording studio owner/producer Roméo Beaudry (1882-1932). Beaudry was, along with his friend Herbert Berliner, the most important producer of Canadian artists in the first half of the 20th century. During the 1920s, Beaudry’s Montreal-based Starr studio produced 693 francophone records, featuring almost every great name in Quebec lyric, folk and variety song with equal success. He also produced songs with original lyrics and melodies as well as French-language translation of popular American hits of the era. In early 1929, singer Paul Payan (1878-1959) recorded Beaudry’s French-language translation on the Montreal-based Compo/Starr label (issue #15535; matrix # 3602): http://amicus.collectionscanada.gc.ca/gramophone-bin/Main/ItemDisplay?l=0&l_ef_l=-1&id=929582.30274&v=1&lvl=1&coll=24&rt=1&itm=31399111&rsn=S_WWWqia1dZ1es&all=1&dt=AW+|sonny|&spi=-&rp=1&v=1.

Father invites his little boy to climb upon his knee and pours out his love for his son

VFC2006-0002 Beaudoin Family Collection. MS2011-3222 Eva Lacourse Songbook. Vermont Folklife Center Archive, Vermont Folklife Center, Middlebury, Vermont, United States of America.

Mon petit gars

My Little Kid

Grimpe sur mes genous

Beaudry, Roméo (French arrangement)

Jolson, Al

Henderson, Ray

De Sylva, Bud

Brown, Lew

Beaudry, Roméo (French)

1
Grimpe sur mes genous
Mon petit gar
Et regarde bien ton papa
Tu ne peut comprendre
Mon affection tendre
Tu est tout pour moi mon petit gars

Refrain
Quand l’ennuie me prend
Tu me distrait enfant
En te voyant mon petit gars
Toute mes misers me semble legere
Quand tu est la mon petit gars
On amour pour toi
Et bien fort croit mi
Quand ti sera grand, tu sera mon confident
Reste moi toujour sincere
Aime bien ton pere
Dieu de benira dieu te benira
Mon petit gars

2
En toi j’me revous mon petit gars
Mon passer c’est toi
Mon petit gars
Et l’image chere de ta bonne mere
Resterait dans tes yeux
Mon petit gars

Fin