Memmere’s Rubaboo
 |
Play Audio |
| Title: | Memmere’s Rubaboo |
| Creator: | Andrea Menard |
| Subject: | Michif, Songs, Andrea Menard |
| Description: | Memmere’s Rubaboo is a storytelling ballad, told mostly in English. It follows a strong, fictional, Michif Matriarch from the early 1900’s who deals with the law in her own way. It’s poignant and funny and educational, with a Michif chorus for practise. There are always great teachings available when we pay attention to how our Matriarchs handle conflict.
Memmere's Rubaboo Introduction: Memmere’s Rubaboo (key of E) by Andrea Menard & Robert Walsh, translated by Marjorie Beaucage My Memmere’s in trouble with the law, Cuz she killed another Canada goose With skillful hands she wrung it by the neck, Now I’m a wreck! Better check! Cuz the mounties are coming, Coming with a noose All because Memmere killed a Canada goose The last few winters have been hard on us all And the Métis folk are looking too thin Although Memmere’s the best cook around She needs game to feed her kin Memmere dreams of the times of the buffalo hunt When she’d cook and feast for days But the buffalo are a distant memory… And she fears for traditional ways. “Those Canadians have, come and taken all the land And we’re not allowed to hunt as we were taught.” She said, “There’s rules for this and mounties for that So if you hunt you better not get caught!” One day, Memmere looked hard at us all And she marched right out the door She didn’t come back till the sun went down… And threw a goose right on the floor chorus She plucked and butchered and simmered that goose Added herbs and roots she found The sweet aroma of her tasty stew Lured the people from miles around Came friends and neighbours and cousins and kids Came beggars and drunks as well Cuz when Memmere makes her famous rubaboo The whole settlement knows its smell My Memmere is a Michif Matriarch Known to laugh and sing and play But when you cross a line with her Even brave men run away She knows what to do with the drunks and the beggars But the one thing she can’t stand Is a Canadian thief who takes everything he sees And hoards the gifts of the land Chorus in Michif Ma Memmere a aen chi problême Elle a attrapi aen zwé canayen Pis la police s’envien l’attrapii Tapwe? C’est vrai! La police s’envien, s’envien la cherchii Jus parse quelle a tué aen maudjee zwé When the mounties came, they had their weapons drawn Memmere was so mad she could burst “If you think you’re dragging me out of here, “Think again, you’ll have to shoot me first!” The mounties hummed and the mounties hawed And they didn’t know what to do “While you boys are making up your mind. Sit down and taste my rubaboo!” Those redcoats tried very hard to resist Their resolve was growing thin They couldn’t help themselves, such heavenly smells Before long, they were digging right in. With bellies full, their choice was made And they threw their orders away That’s the power of the stew, Memmere’s rubaboo… It saved a few lives that day My Memmere was in trouble with the law, Cuz she killed another Canada goose With skillful hands she wrung it by the neck, Now I’m a wreck! What the heck! Cuz the mounties are coming, With any old excuse All because Memmere killed a Canada goose And we hope that she bags a moose. |
| Publisher: | Gabriel Dumont Institute |
| Date: | 2022 |
| Type: | Audio |
| Format: | .mp3 |
| Language: | Michif |
| Date of Copyright: | November 9, 2022 |
| GDI Media Filename: | 08_Memmere_s_Rubaboo.mp3 |
Related Categories
Anskoonamakew lii Shansoon—Andrea Menard