Joe Boucher

Air--"Car si mon moine."

  Joe Boucher was a frien' of mine,
  Joe Boucher was a happy man,
  Till he tell a young girl he 'd lak to fin'
  Some nice leetle wife for hees new cabane.
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of de wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  De nam' dat girl she’s Azeel-daw,
  An' purty good worker, too, dey say--
  She don't lose chance for a brave garçon,
  An' so she marry Joe Boucher.
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of de wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  Den off on de wood poor Joe he lef',
  An' w'en he’s home wit' de bird in spring,
  An' fin' leetle feller jus' lak hese'f,
  Mebbe Joe don't dance an' Joe don't sing!
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of hees wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  Dat’s all very well till de fall come along,
  An' Joe got to go on de bush encore,
  But w'en he come back he sing no song,
  For dere was two leetle baby more.
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of de wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  He don't say not'ing, but he t'ink beeg lot,
  An' won't tak' a drink for two, t'ree day,
  But not moche money poor Joe he got,
  So off on de reever he’s goin' away.
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of de wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  W'en May come along dat beau garçon
  He’s only gettin' anoder scare--
  For he know by de smile on Azeel-daw
  She got t'ree fine new baby dere.
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of de wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  So he kill hese'f dead, dat beau garçon
  He work so hard for de familee,
  An' he say, "Too bad, but Azeel-daw,
  I’m sorry she marry poor man lak me."
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of hees wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.

  Now I know very well dat all poor man
  He tak' some chance w'en he get marie,
  So he better look out all de bes' he can,
  Or he’ll be ketch lak Joe Boucher--
  Now he’s los' hees life too,
  All on account of de wife too,
  An' I know you’ll be sorry 'bout dat poor feller,
  I know you’ll be sorry for Joe Boucher.