Last night, I was working on the Wafus Two-Step and my wife walks in and asks "What's that you're playing?"

I tell her it's the Wafus Two-Step, and she wrinkles her brow and replies "What kind of name is that? Wafus doesn't sound very Cajun."

As usual, she asked a good question that I couldn't answer. Do any of you Braves know from where the song's name originates?

Many thanks,
JtO

Jude,

In Dirk Powell's 2nd training video, he calls the Walfus 2-step, and I will spell this as phonetically as I can " La Tal de Rhone", or something very close to that, so you can tell your wife the song does have a French name. I scanned my LA hwy map but didn't see a town called Walfus, but Pointe Noir and Grey Cove are not on it either. Best I can do.
Walf-us? Boff-us?
JB

I saw La talle des Ronces at youtube.
Adam and Cyp Landreneaux by Pete Seeger.
Great stuff.
Try the second link.

Not sure what Walfus/Wafus means, could be a place name or persons name. La Talle Des Eronces means a briar patch.

Thanks all for your input on my little mystery.

The case from Powell's DVD has the title as "Wafus" instead of Walfus, but I've seen it as Walfus before too.

Does anyone know who popularized the song?

(I really need to plunk down the money to buy Ann Savoy's book, don't I?)

JtO

If you are at all interested in Cajun music, that book is worth buying.

Hi, I just listened to that YouTube clip you posted. I don't think this is the same song as "La Talle de Ronces" that's on Powell's video.

In French, "Talle de Ronces" would refer to an area in a field or woods where you have blackberry/raspberry bushes (something rough of the like that would scratch your legs and damage your pants). I would think Walfus is a name of something...(?)

It's the same song, but played by the Landreneaux it sound different.
In Ye Yaille Chere they talk about the version from Aldus Roger and Phillip Alleman.
Aldus Roger called the song also The Waffle Two Step and "Pee Wee Broussard" called it the Pancake two Step.
A related song is the Midway Two Step.

It's the same melody. Unfortunately, Dirk does not let Christine sing the lyrics in the training CD. Tried to Mapquest Walfus, LA. No luck.
JB

I think the earliest recording under this title was by Milton Molitor with Chuck Guillory's band, but it's probably most closely associated under that title with Aldus Roger. Interesting stuff about waffles and pancakes. I haven't seen a version by Pee Wee Broussard but would like to.

#1 clip on the Arhoolie site for Chuck Guillory. Whole song at link #2. I like Milton Molitor's easy pace on this one.

Marc Savoy also did this on a Smithsonian Folkways album, Cajun Social Music, with the title Tout Ca C'est Dur a Croire (link above).

Very nice version on this link, Neal!
Thanks

Gus

Here's a quote by Raymond E. Francois in his book Ye Yaille, Chere, "I have never been able to find an explanation of the name Wafus." Considering the extensive research done by Mr. Francois for the book and the fact that he himself is an accomplished cajun musician, if he doesn't know I don't if we'll ever know.

Interesting. The best I could find is that walfus is a common typo for walrus.

Or Waffles, with blackberry or raspberry syrup? Do the lyrics on Neal's site or the Youtube version have anything to do with Breakfast Crepes?
Way out in Left Field.
Anyway, it's a bouncy, happy number that is easy to learn, and should be in everybody's playbook. Just wish I could play it like Marc Savoy. Give me 50 more years.
JB

I always thought it meant waffles...lol