Steve thanks, this is so beautiful and I love you addition. Also, you taught me how to drone it Dad with this one. I got the book and was really struggling with the chords at first on the Cardboard Wonder kit I built, not set up very well. I didn't know I could keep it in Dad and drone with +3. So, many thanks.

Hi Marion

Its nice to know you've been inspired.

I learnt it from Lois Hornbostal's Cajun Favourites ( Which comes with a CD and which I would highly recommend) but then tweaked the basic version and added a bridge

There's an embellished version too

That's what they are playing on this you tube link

I'm playing it Ddd

It starts

765

3345

654

2234

765

5678

876543 ( or 10 98743)

the bridge or chorus starts

210

2234

I'm sure you can work the rest out

Hope this helps

Marion - Thank you. Yes I think music does help once you let it

Thanks also to Patty,John and Val

That is a mournful sounding tune. It is pretty. Thanks for sharing Steve

Very nicely done!

Very nicely played Steve.

JH -thanks it feels like I've been away a long time.A combination of bereavement(My Dad passed away in early December) my own ill health over Xmas and New Year and more recently a very dodgy broadband connection have taken their toll on my posting.Hopefully I've got my Mojo(and broadband back) back

Guy,Lynn,Geekling, Cindy thanks for your comments glad you liked it.There is an embellished version of this tune but I liked the simple version especially for the way I wanted to play it. I played this on an all Walnut Red Kite that I bought from Robin Clark's Bird Rock Dulcimers. I understand it was made by the Hagen Family in the Ozarks

Ken and Dusty thanks to you also for you compliments on my playing and the bridge-really encouraging thank you. Its funny because the bridge just sort of happened. It almost wrote itself but I agree it sits in there nicely and I hope adds something.

Here's a link to a wonderful clip on you tube of this song being performed by better hands than mine. Personally I think they need an MD player but they didn't do too bad without one!

Steve, I've listened to this a few more times since my initial comment and want to reiterate how soft and precise your touch is. You have a nice way of pausing ever so slightly over certain notes while still keeping the melody moving along. And the bridge fits perfectly. It is a song that doesn't have a chorus but only verses, so the addition of your bridge really does improve this old classic. Impressive playing and composing.

Steve - this is soooo pretty!!!

I am going to just pretend I didn't read about the song and how sad it is.......

Thank you for sharing this!

What dulcimer are you playing? It has a beautiful sound!

Steve, that was some fine melancholy playing. It is a haunting tune, especially if one knows the background. And the bridge you added works well.

Good one Steve !great to see you posting again

John

Nice job, Steve. I've played this song on the guitar for a while, having gone through a Cajun phase about 15 years ago. But you have maybe inspired me to try it on the dulcimer. Actually a lot of old Cajun tunes should work on the dulcimer since they were played on the diatonic accordion.

Lexie, this song may sound "sweet" in Steve's delicate and sensitive playing, but it is incredibly sad. It is not merely that the singer passes by the door of his dead lover's house, but he learns of her death when he goes to visit her. In the first verse he passes by her door and calls to "ma belle" but "il y a personne qui ne m'a pas repondue," meaning no one responded. In the second verse he opens the door to see "les chandelles allumes/tout autour de ton cerceuil," or candles burning around her coffin. So when he cries, "Ooeeah, mon coeur fait mal," or "oh my heart aches," we feel his pain. I'm almost crying now. Almost.

Jai Passe Devant Ta Porte is translated as I passed by your door or I passed in front of your door

Its a sad song about the singer passing the door of his dead lover's house

Glad you like it