03/19/25

Le Labrador (1972)

Ouais, je dois retourner vers le nordL'un de mes frères m'y attendFaudrait tirer, traîner le tempsAvec mon frère qui est dingueQui pousse sur un traîneau géantLes exploiteurs se font pesants

Faudrait rapporter du soleilDe la chaleur pour les enfantsFlatter les chiens du vieux chasseurBoire avec lui un coup de blancTraîner du sud vers le nordNotre sud est encore tout blanc

Mon père parlait du LabradorDu vent qui dansait sur la merUn homme marchait sur la neigeCherchant des chiens pour un traîneauIl est rentré les yeux mouillésPuis un avion nous l'a ramené

Un millier d'hommes sur la neigeN'ont pas d'endroit pour retournerIls sont figés là, sans connaîtreEt n'ont que du sud à penser
Ouais, je dois retourner vers le nordChanter l'été du Labrador
Singer-Songwriter: Claude Dubois
Lyrics source: MusixMatch
03/19/25

Claude DuBois (1947-)

Claude DuBois 

[4] Claude André Dubois is a Canadian songwriter born on April 24, 1947. Known for his emotionally rich music, Dubois explores themes of longing, identity, and complexities of human ambition. [1] His journey in music began at just 12 years old when he joined the band Les Montagnards, starting off with an LP (vinyl record) release at 17, he was already entertaining audiences at Le Patriote in Montréal, and he made his solo debut the next year. His big break came in 1967 when he won the Renée-Claude trophy and showing his talent at Expo 67, really put him on the international stage. Over time, he changed his music from traditional chanson to being more rock-oriented, with standout hits like “Comme un million de gens”.

[1] In 1972, he was hired as a TV show host and established his own record label. After overcoming some personal challenges, including drug issues in 1981, he made a remarkable comeback in 1982 with the album Sortie Dubois, which brought him five Félix awards that same year. After recovering from a stroke, he released Duos Dubois in 2007, which earned him a place in the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. His passion for performance remained strong as he delighted audiences at various festivals until 2013.

[2] Dubois’ songs dive into deep emotions, often focusing on themes like longing, identity, and the tension between material success and genuine fulfillment. Take “Le Blues du Businessman,” which comes from the musical Starmania for example. It paints a vivid picture of a wealthy businessman who seems to have it all—money, power, and success—but still feels an important sense of emptiness. The lyrics contrast his luxurious lifestyle (“Je voyage toujours en première,” “J’ai du succès dans mes affaires”) with his inner emptiness (“J’suis pas heureux mais j’en ai l’air, “J’ai perdu le sens de l’humour”). Despite his multiple achievements, he regrets not pursuing an artistic path where he could express himself freely and find true meaning in life. The repetition of “J’aurais voulu être un artiste” reinforces his yearning for creativity, self-expression, and an identity beyond his career. This song captures a recurring theme in Dubois’ work—an emotional exploration that challenges societal norms, revealing the gap between outward success and inner satisfaction. With its melancholic tone and striking lyrics, it offers a timeless commentary on the sacrifices often made in the pursuit of wealth and achievement.

[3] This theme of longing and inner conflict is not only present in “Le Blues du Businessman” but also appears in “Chasse-Galerie”, though in a different form. While the former explores personal dissatisfaction in the face of success, the latter tells a supernatural tale of desire and temptation. “Chasse-Galerie” is an engaging song inspired by a popular Québécois legend about a group of lumberjacks who make a deal with the devil to fly home in a magical canoe on New Year’s Eve. The song dives into themes of temptation and the ongoing struggle between good and evil. The lyrics create a vivid picture of the men’s isolation in the forest, where the devil takes advantage of their longing for home by offering them this enchanted escape. But it’s a risky pact—if anyone breaks the rules, they all face dire consequences. The tension rises as they successfully reach their village, but one man’s mistake seals their fate. Just when hope seems lost, a young member of the group manages to break the spell with a heartfelt prayer. Claude Dubois’ rendition of this tale brings a haunting quality that really emphasizes the perils of temptation. This song beautifully weaves together folklore and poetic storytelling, making it a unforgettable piece.

 

References

[2] Kerley, Melissa S. “Starmania and ‘Le Blues Du Businessman.’” Learn French in DC and Online, 7 May 2010, frenchindc.com/blog/starmania-and-le-blues-du-businessman/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

[1] Rioux, Christian, et al. “Claude Dubois.” Thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, 3 Mar. 2013, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/claude-dubois-emc. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

[4] Wikipedia Contributors. “Claude Dubois.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 24 Sept. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Dubois. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

[3] Wikipedia Contributors. “Chasse-Galerie.” Wikipedia, 26 Jan. 2021, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chasse-galerie. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Related Contents

Anon. “Claude Dubois.” Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, 28 Aug. 2018, www.cshf.ca/songwriter/claude-dubois/. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

Sautter-Léger, Serena. “Melodies of a Lifetime with Claude Dubois – the Tribune.” The Tribune, 9 Apr. 2024, www.thetribune.ca/a-e/ae-music/melodies-of-a-lifetime-with-claude-dubois-09042024/. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Suggested Sources

[3a lyrics] Anon. “Claude Dubois – Chasse Galerie.” Genius, 2021, genius.com/Claude-dubois-chasse-galerie-lyrics. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

[3c English] Anon. “Claude Dubois – La Chasse-Galerie (English Translation).” Lyricstranslate.com, 2024, lyricstranslate.com/en/claude-dubois-la-chasse-galerie-english. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

[2b video] FYO PIX. “Claude DuBois: Le Blues Du Businessman (Extrait de L’opéra-Rock STARMANIA (Live à Paris) 1999.” YouTube, 20 Oct. 2012, www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq81bvTcDmA. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

[3b video] Papalouza. “Claude Dubois: Chasse-Galerie.” YouTube, 21 Nov. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xI58RasCJTw. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

[2a lyrics] Sing With Them. “Claude Dubois | Le Blues Du Businessman.” YouTube, 27 Apr. 2023, www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M6llRvR3bs. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

03/19/25

Claude Léveillée (1932 – 2011)

Claude Léveillée was a Canadian actor, pianist, and singer & songwriter who composed over 400 songs, instrumental scores, and musicals. He was born in Montréal, Canada. His mother was a pianist and his father was a tenor. Born into a musical family, he learned to play the piano at five without ever taking any lessons. He also played the accordion and harmonica. He began performing in the streets while taking economics and political science courses at the University of Montreal. 

 

He made his stage debut in 1955. He appeared on stage at the Université de Montréal in the magazine Bleu et Or, to perform a number by Gilbert Bécaud and Liberace. He was noticed by Noël Gauvin, director of the TV show Music-hall. Gauvin later approached Léveillée to compose the song Montréal for the singer Andrée D’Amour. In 1956, he founded Les Bozos, a group of singers composed of Clémence Desrochers, Hervé Brousseau, Jacques Blanchet, Jean-Pierre Ferland and Raymond Lévesque. Among the first songs he composed were “Frédéric”, “L’Hiver”, “Les Vieux Pianos” and “Rendez-vous.” In 1964, he was the first Québec-born solo artist to perform at Place des Arts. This is one of Canada’s largest music complexes. It is a major North American integrated centre for both visual and performing arts. He brought his music around the globe,  in Canada, France, The USSR, Japan, Belgium, Switzerland, and central Asian countries. 

 

Apart from songs, he wrote music for theatres and films. He composed music for TV series such as Of Mice and Men, L’Échéance du vendredi, Le Pélican and Millionnaire à froid. He also wrote music for the film Les Beaux dimanches, and wrote musical comedies. He composed vocal concertos and music for the ballet Fleur de lit. Les Ballets-Jazz du Québec danced it during the Montréal Olympics. 

 

In the late 1970s,  he took a break from performing and switched focus to composing and acting. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he released several new albums and performed again. He was partially paralyzed in 2004, and his final album, Coeur sans pays, was recorded just days before his stroke and was released in 2008. He passed away in 2011 at the Laurentians. 

 

Léveillée’s work has a strong influence. They were recognized with numerous awards, including Officer of the Order of Canada and induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006). As a result of his work, other artists can follow in his footsteps and achieve greater success. 

 

Source 

Denise Ménard, Betty Nygaard King, Suzanne Thomas, Benoît L’Herbier. “Claude Léveillée.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published June 8, 2011; Last Edited March 4, 2015.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/claude-leveillee 

 

Julie Dufresne, Laurent Duval, Susan Spier, Richard Haskell. “Music at Place des Arts.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published April 14, 2011; Last Edited April 27, 2023.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/place-des-arts-emc

03/19/25

Le grand six pieds (1964)

Aux alentours du lac Saguay
Il était venu pour bûcher
Et pour les femmes
Il trimait comme un déchaîné
Pis l′samedi soir, allait giguer
Avec les femmes
Un Québécois comme y en a plus
Un grand six pieds, poilu en plus
Fier de son âme

Je suis de nationalité québécoise-française
Et ces billots, je les ai coupés
À la sueur de mes deux pieds
Dans la terre glaise
Et voulez-vous pas m'emmerder
Avec vos mesures à l′anglaise

Mais son patron, une tête anglaise
Une tête carrée entre parenthèses
Et malhonnête
Mesurait l'bois du grand six pieds
Rien qu'à l′oeil, un oeil fermé
Y était pas bête
Mais l′grand six pieds l'avait à l′oeil
Et lui préparait son cercueil
En épinette

Refrain

Puis un matin, dans les rondins
Il lui a gossé la moustache
À coups de hâche
On a fêté l′grand six pieds
Y avait d'la bière, du lard salé
Et puis des femmes
M'sieur l′curé voulut l′confesser
Mais l'grand six pieds lui a chanté
Sur sa guitare

Refrain
Author: Claude Pierre Gauthier
Lyrics source: MusixMatch
03/19/25

Heureux d’un printemps (1977)

Heureux d'un printemps qui me chauffe la couenne
Happy with a spring that warms my skin
Triste d'avoir manqué encore un hiver
Sad to have missed another winter
J'peux pas faire autrement, ça me fait de la peine
I can't do otherwise, it saddens me
On vit rien qu'au printemps; le printemps dure pas longtemps
We only live in spring; spring doesn't last long

[turlute]

Assis sur le bord de mon trou, j'me creuse la tête;
Sitting on the edge of my hole, I rack my brains;
J'pense au bonheur des gens, j'sais ben que ça va pas durer
I think about people's happiness, I know it won't last
Ça l'air que ça prend des sous pour faire la fête
It seems like it takes money to party
À qui appartient le beau temps l'hiver, l'été durant?
Who owns the good weather in winter, while it is summer?

[turlute]

L'été c'est tellement bon quand t'as la chance
Summer is so good when you have the chance
D'avoir assez d'argent pour voyager sans t'inquiéter
To have enough money to travel without worrying
Pour le fils d'un patron, c'est les vacances
For the boss's son it's vacation
Pour la fille du restaurant c'est les sueurs pis les clients
For the girl in the restaurant it's the sweats and the customers

[turlute]

On dit que l'hiver est blanc comme un nuage
They say that winter is white like a cloud
Mais ça évidemment, dans le chalet près du foyer
But that is obviously in the chalet near the fireplace
Dans l'fond c'est salissant au prix c'qui est l'chauffage
Basically it's dirty at the price at which heating is
Y a pas pire moment de l'année quand t'es prit pour d'endetter
There's no worse time of year when you're stuck in debt
[turlute]

Faut que je m'en retourne dans mon trou, creuser ma peine
I have to go back to my hole, dig out my pain
J'ai vu le surintendant, j'peux rien dire en attendant
I saw the superintendent, meanwhile I can't tell you anything
Le jour que ce sera nous qui feront la fête
The day when it will be us who will party
Imaginez le printemps quand l'hiver sera vraiment blanc
Imagine spring time when winter will be truly white

 

Singer-songwritter: Paul Piché

Lyrics source: Genius

Song type: Strophique (5×4)

Rhyming scheme: aabc, ddec, fgfc, hihi, jkjc

Metre: decameter and mixte

03/17/25

Ça va venir découragez-vous pas (1930)

Mes amis, je vous assureQue le temps est bien durIl faut pas s'découragerÇa va bien vite commencerDe l'ouvrage, y va en avoirPour tout le monde, cet hiverIl faut bien donner le tempsAu nouveau gouvernement

Ça va v'nir puis ça va v'nir mais décourageons-nous pasMoi, j'ai toujours le coeur gai pis je continue à turluter

On se plaint à MontréalAprès tout, on n'est pas malDans la province de QuébecOn mange notre pain bien secY a pas d'ouvrage au CanadaY en a ben moins dans les ÉtatsEssayez pas d'aller plus loinVous êtes certains de crever d' faim

Ça va v'nir puis ça va v'nir mais décourageons-nous pasMoi, j'ai toujours le coeur gai pis je continue à turluter

Ça coûte cher de c'temps-iciPour se nourrir à créditPour pas qu' ça monte à la grocerieJe me tape fort sur les biscuitsMais j' peux pas faire de l'extraMon p'tit mari travaille pasÀ force de me priver d'mangerJ'ai l'estomac ratatiné

Ça va v'nir puis ça va v'nir mais décourageons-nous pasMoi, j'ai toujours le coeur gai pis je continue à turluter

Me voilà mal amanchéeJ'ai des trous dans mes souliersMes talons sont tout d' traversEt pis le bout qui r'trousse en l'airLe dessus est tout fenduLa doublure toute décousueLes orteils passent à traversC'est toujours mieux que d'pas en avoir

Ça va v'nir puis ça va v'nir mais décourageons-nous pasMoi, j'ai toujours le coeur gai pis je continue à turluter

Le propriétaire qui m'a louéIl est bien mal amanchéMa boîte à charbon est brûléeEt puis j'ai cinq vitres de casséesMa lumière disconnectéePis mon eau est pas payéeL'ont pas besoin de v'nir m'achalerM'a les saprer en bas d' l'escalier

Ça va v'nir puis ça va v'nir mais décourageons-nous pasMoi, j'ai toujours le coeur gai pis je continue à turluter
Source: Musixmatch
03/16/25

Viens avec moi et tu verras

 

S’il est vrai que la vie sourit aux audacieux

Allons suis-moi et ne sois pas si orgueilleux

 

Refrain:

La vie t’attend, t’ouvre les bras

ne vois-tu pas là-bas, là-bas,

viens avec moi et tu verras

 

S’il est écrit que pour aimer et êtr’ heureux

On ne peut pas y arriver sans vivr’ à deux

 

Refrain

 

Suis mon conseil: Il ne faut plus y repenser

À ce chagrin que tu te dois vit’ d’oublier

 

Refrain

 

Parc’ qu’il ne faut jamais se contenter de peu

Car un peu ce n’est pas assez crois moi, mon vieux

 

Refrain

 

Il faut marcher vers l’avenir, vers le bonheur

Sans t’attarder à regarder souffrir ton coeur

 

Refrain

(moi et tu verras extended as final statement)

 

English translation:

Come with me and you’ll see

 

If it’s true that life smiles on the bold

Come follow me and don’t be so proud

 

Refrain:

Life is waiting for you, opening its arms,

don’t you see out there, out there,

come with me and you’ll see

 

If it’s written that to love and be happy

You can’t do it without living together

 

Refrain

 

Take my advice: Don’t give it another thought

To this sorrow you must live to forget

 

Refrain

 

Because you must never be satisfied with little

Because a little isn’t enough, believe me old man

 

Refrain

 

You have to walk towards the future, towards happiness

Without lingering to watch your heart suffer

 

Refrain

 

Text analysis:

S’il est vrai que la vie sourit aux audacieux (12)

Allons suis moi et ne sois pas si orgueilleux  (12)

 

Refrain:

La vie t’attend, t’ouvre les bras (8)

ne vois tu pas là bas, là bas, (8)

viens avec moi et tu verras (8)

 

S’il est écrit que pour aimer et êtr’ heureux

On ne peut pas y arriver sans vivr’ à deux

 

Suis mon conseil: Il ne faut plus y repenser

À ce chagrin que tu te dois vit’ d’oublier

 

Parc’ qu’il ne faut jamais se contenter de peu

Car un peu ce n’est pas assez crois moi, mon vieux

 

Il faut marcher vers l’avenir, vers le bonheur

Sans t’attarder à regarder souffrir ton coeur

Notes:

-March that became popular with Quebecois youth.

-The narrator is a leader, possibly romantic/seductive?

 

Setting:

-Male vocal quartet with layered texture

-Previous layers remain constant

-Modulation F-Fsharp-G-Ab-A Major. (stepwise chromatically)

-impressive chromaticism in the harmony

-12/8

 

Opens with a walking bass pizz opening

Verse and Refrain 1

Monorhythmic and monophonic singing

Offbeat chords in acoustic guitar

Verse and Refrain 2

Solo voice leads supported by with harmonic “euuu”s, counter-rhythm

Verse and Refrain 3

Monorhythmic in 4 part harmony

Accordian?

Verse and Refrain 4

Solo voice leads with marcato “la la la” accompaniment

Horn

Verse and Refrain 5

Monorhythmic in 4 part harmony

Electric guitar

 

Suggested Sources:

Viens avec moi et tu verras

Germaine Dugas:

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Deux Enfants Du Même Âge,” July 26, 2018. https://www.cshf.ca/song/deux-enfants-du-meme-age/.

Les Collégiens Troubadours:

Michel Fournier, Québec Info Musique.com et Louis Bédard (Foutchy), Oricom Internet Inc. “Québec Info Musique | Les Collégiens Troubadours.” Copyright 2012, Québec Info Musique, n.d. https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.qim.com%2Fartistes%2Fbiographie.asp%3Fartistid%3D519#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url.

 

 

 

 

 

 

03/15/25

Voyageurs

The cliché, woven red arrowhead sash evokes a vivid character of perilous adventure – les voyageurs. They were mainly hired by The North West company in the fur trade industry during the 17th and 18th centuries.[1] Voyageurs and coureurs des bois were synonymous in the 17th century; both were licensed traders responsible for the exchange of goods between suppliers to Indigenous peoples. While voyageurs remained contracted by merchants or military officers with permits, coureurs des bois did not have permits and were considered outlaws once the trading licence system was implemented in 1681.[2]

The voyageurs were young French men hired to transport goods to trading posts which later developed into a supervising role, a “canoe master”. Voyageurs ensured the engagés (hired workers) would transport goods from merchant-suppliers and return to Montreal with furs. “Merchant voyageurs” were contracted for three years by merchants and military officers with established trading companies. The fur trade shifted in the 19th century; the number of engagés increased drastically and the bourgeois (often Scottish immigrants) replaced the role of the voyageur.[1]

Although the jovial voyageur folksongs and tales of exploration are romantic, they endured extreme hardship. A typical day involved paddling from 14 to 16 hours, sleeping under canoes, enduring mosquitoes, flies, and harsh elements such as the bitter cold, blistering sun, and pouring rain. During a portage, they carried approximately 170 lbs upon their backs. Their survival depended on cheerful camaraderie and supporting one another.[3]

Voyageurs had a variety of clothing attire over the centuries rather than the stereotypical red or blue tuque, arrowhead sash, moccasins, and hood produced by our collective imagination. Singing during their hard labour produced a large repertoire of tuneful songs, such as “Alouette,” “Rame rame,” and “C’est l’aviron.” Annually, events such as the Festival du Voyageur (Manitoba) are presented to celebrate the voyageurs and French-Canadian culture through exquisite cuisine, lively dance, and festive music.[4]

 

Suggested Sources:

  1. Foster, John E. , and Suzanne Gousse. “Voyageurs.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published June 07, 2007; Last Edited November 07, 2019.
  2. Wien, Tom. “Coureurs des bois.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 06, 2006; Last Edited November 07, 2019.
  1. Government of Canada. “The voyageurs.” Accessed March 6, 2025. https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/qc/lachine/culture/histoire-history/site/voyageurs
  1. Festival du Voyageur. “Infos Générales.” Accessed March 6, 2025. https://heho.ca/festival/infos-generales/

 

Related Contents:

Rame, rame

C’est l’aviron

Alouette!

The Voyageur Song

The Voyageurs (NFB film)

03/14/25

Ojibwe

The Ojibwe are indigenous peoples that are part of the larger group, Anishinaabeg [1]. The Anishinaabeg refers to indigenous peoples that are linked together culturally and linguistically, whom of which reside both in Canada and the United States [2]. The Ojibwe are also part of the Algonquin peoples, who’s ancestry can be found in Eastern Canada; primarily Ottawa and Quebec.  

The Algonquin were allies with early French settlers against the Haudenosaunee, a separate indigenous nation, and maintained alliances with the French settlers during the fur trade for military equipment, fur trading, and later, general supplies [3]. Ojibwe peoples migrated from Northeast Canada and spanned Southwest ward through to Manitoba. In the United States, Ojibwe peoples reside in the Northeast parts of Michigan, through to the Northern section of North Dakota [4]. 

This wide dispersal was due to the growing fur trading enterprise. Some Ojibwe peoples involved with the fur trade also participated in the Feast of the dead, an event held by the Huron [5], an allied Iroquoian-speaking indigenous nation [6]. The Feast of the dead refers to the event in which the movement of the bodies of departed souls (who did not die violent deaths) are relocated to a common ossuary, which was lined with beaver robes. The event helped facilitate fur and goods distribution between groups. 

Suggested Sources:

  1. Bishop, C. A. (2008, August 13). Ojibwe | the Canadian encyclopedia. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa 
  2. Hele, K. S. (2020, July 16). Anishinaabe. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/anishinaabe 
  3. Black, M. J. (2007, September 30). Algonquin. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/algonquin 
  4. Peacock, T. D., & Wisuri, M. (2002). A Chapter Road Map. In Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa (pp. 18–26). essay, Afton Historical Society Press., from https://books.google.ca/books?id=tIljlOKroM0C&lpg=PA10&ots=e0lyqX0pGd&dq=ojibwe&lr&pg=PA22#v=onepage&q=ojibwe&f=false. 
  5. Marsh, J. H. (2006, February 7). Feast of the dead. The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/feast-of-the-dead 
  6. Heidenreich, C. E. H. (2011, January 4). Wendat (Huron). The Canadian Encyclopedia. https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/huron 

Related Contents:

 

03/14/25

The Minnesota Heritage Songbook

The Minnesota Heritage Songbook is a collection of traditional folk songs, documenting the history and culture of Minnesota. Most of the songs were brought by immigrants. Songs were passed down verbally through generations. The songbook collected songs about events relevant to Minnesota history, compiled and edited by Robert B. Waltz. The book was released in 2008 in celebration of the Minnesota Sesquicentennial. Although the exact launch date isn’t specified, the site has been updated over the years.

The website devoted to the collection provides a lot of sources and information. The Songbook allows readers to look for songs by alphabetical order, song topics, and according to the historic timeline. The songbook acts like a database, making it easy for visitors to find folk songs. The website has songs in different foreign languages, including French, Danish, German, Finnish, and Swedish. For instance, there is a French song “A la claire fontaine”. According to the website’s description, “it is a well-known song in Quebec, with a text widely printed; it is said to have been a voyageur favorite.” Lyrics, English translation, and a short instrumental melody recording are provided. There are recordings of most of the songs, which visitors can use to get a sense of how the songs might sound.  

For further exploration, the songbook provides links to other sites with useful materials about Minnesota folk songs. Further readings and listening could be done via those sources.

Source: The Minnesota Heritage Songbook