My Papa was a hard working mand
Held a plow inside a caloused hand
Up before the sun out on theland
Try to give us everything he can

He sent us off to school when a teacher came
He said, "My boy try hard, do the best you can."
But the teacher we could not understand
Because she only talked "Américain"

Papa couldn't tell us and it didn't make no sense
When the teacher told us we couldn't talk no French no more

Things were changing fast it Louisiane
Cajun can't talk English feel ashamed
But nowadays, it's getting so you can't
Tell the Cajuns from Amércains

Papa couldn't tell us and it didn't make no sense
When the teacher told us we couldn't talk no French no more
Do you hear me calling, do you understand?
Once it is gone, it ain't never coming back no more

I got me a job just like my Papa planned
I wear a suit and dirt never touch my hand
But I still see the look in my Papa's eyes
The pain and the shame that he just could not hide
Papa couldn't tell us and it didn't make no sense
When the teacher told us we couldn't talk no French no more
Do you hear me calling, do you understand?
Once it is gone, it ain't never coming back no more
Hé, mon cher garçon
Est-ce que tu me comprends?