Nothing on Internet. I have just thought of Ryan Brasseaux's Cajun Breakdown. Interesting clarification pp. 80-82.

(Oh, but the book is also on Internet:
http://books.google.fr/books?id=6eBdqRQVfbUC&pg=PA73&hl=fr&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false).

I'll go and throw some change in. It's for that movie secrets of the the ya ya sisterhood or whatever which is about Louisiana women I believe. I'm guessing T-Bone with his knack for folk music picked up a lomax cd, liked the melody, and said somebody translate this so Allison Krauss can sing it. The title is the same just in English. Let's not forget Ann Savoy and Linda Rhondstats collaboration "Evangeline Made" where non-Louisiana musicians (I believe could be wrong) covered a wide variety of Cajun tunes including a really good version of Les Flammes d'Enfer by a solo guitar picker and vocalist.

I wouldn't think it'd be that far fetched for T bone to pick a song for its melody and have it translated, and since it's not in French it's technically not the same song, so he can "reap the benefits" so to speak, as Ganey pointed out.

Well, 'em, guess i'd prefer Uncle Gaspard, sorry ... Nout

Oh yes, "Evangeline made" is a wonderful cd. And they all learned the songs in French.

It would sure be great if the group could have access to the Gaspard version, in French. the original had to be in French and translated to English. Song just does not follow Appalachian-Celtic model, but it is close.

English lyrics:

I sat in the window of my room
Watched you go away
It was all I could do
It was all I could do

You're going away
To leave me alone
In all of this sorrow
In this misery

So look now, my darling
I'll have to abandon
All thought of you
As you're going away

I still see your dear little (head?) hand
As it touched mine
Saying goodbye
Forever goodbye

Those words you said to me
Have broken my heart
Yes, they've broken my heart
They were false and did lie

Goodbye, my dear
Goodbye forever
You're going away
You're going away

Death is hard
But your leaving is worse
Oh, yes, my dear
Your leaving is worse

You're going, my dear
You're going forever
And leaving me all alone
In all of this grief

So how, my dear
How will I forget you
When I see your face
Wherever I go

When I close my eyes
It's sad though I see you
Your beautiful blue eyes
Your beautiful lie

I sat in the window of my room
And watched you go away
It was all I could do
It was all I could do

JB

JB, the English translation is faithful to the original. (http://www.cajunlyrics.com/index.php).

John Fogerty's great version of Diggy Liggy Lo on Evangeline Made:

Marc Savoy on accordion.

T-bone has been known to "lend his name" to the work of others.

Ann Savoy introduced T-Bone Burnet to this song by Blind Uncle Gaspard and translated the song from French to English for him.This was done while filming the YaYa Sisterhood. Ann does not know of any corresponding American folk melody. The words are in the French as spoken in Avoyelles Parish presently, not in the old European French that is foundin the French folk songs that Gaspard and others sang. These songs were rarely commercially recorded and exist on tapes by Lomax, Oster, and others. I remember hearing older people sing these songs during the seventies at parties. As much as I enjoy Blind Uncle Gaspard, Delma Lachney and others who sang these types of songs, I would like to believe that some of these songs where created right here in Louisiana.

Thank you Robert. Now we can maybe piece together the history of the song: Europe (at least for the melody) -> Louisiana (for the lyrics or maybe an adaptation of the European lyrics, with local turns of phrases. Brasseaux also mentions other lyrics by Edius Naquin) -> contemporary American version in English (translated by Ann Savoy).
My curiosity is nearly satisfied.