Growing up, Horace was more interested in rock & roll than Cajun music. Yet, by the time he turned 16 he decided he wanted to learn the accordion. His first cousin, Felix Richard, who also taught Zachary Richard to play the accordion, gave young Horace his first lessons. From Felix, he also developed a reverence for the legendary Iry Lejeune.
According to Barry Ancelet in his liner notes to Ossun Blues, Trahan's first public performance occurred after a staff member at the Liberty Theater in Eunice heard him performing at the afternoon jam session held next door at the Jean Lafitte Acadian Culture Center. During the evening show, she persuaded Ancelet to ask Trahan to come on stage to play one song. He sang Iry's "Viens Me Chercher", which he learned from Felix, and performed all alone sitting in his chair with his accordion. His performance brought tears to the eyes of many in the audience, who gave him a spontaneous standing ovation.
That Butt Thing
Horace Trahan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't like swimmin'
I just like chasin'
Dem big butt women
We goin' do that butt thang
Kinda like that nookie thang
We goin' do that butt thang
We gonna make that butt swing
I don't like golf
I don't like swimmin'
I just like chasin'
Dem big butt women
We goin' do that butt thang
Kinda like that nookie thang
We goin' do that butt thang
We gonna make that butt swing
(Musical Interlude)
Horace Trahan's song "That Butt Thing" paints a clear picture of the singer's preferences and desires. He mentions that he doesn't like golf or swimming, but instead, his interest lies in chasing after women with big butts. The repetition of the phrase "We gonna do that butt thang, kinda like that nookie thang," emphasizes that the singer sees pursuing a woman with a sizable backside as a sexual experience akin to the act of intercourse itself.
The lyrics of "That Butt Thing" are straightforward, but they highlight a societal obsession with idealized body types and a specific type of female figure. By reducing women to their body parts and objectifying them, Trahan reinforces the notion that a woman's worth lies in her physical appearance. The song perpetuates harmful stereotypes about beauty and sexiness, and its lyrics may be seen as disrespectful towards women.
Overall, "That Butt Thing" is a catchy tune that showcases Horace Trahan's musical style and vocal range. However, its lyrics are problematic and perpetuate harmful attitudes towards women, particularly those whose bodies do not fit the narrow beauty standards portrayed in the media.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't like golf
I do not have any interest or passion for the sport of golf
I don't like swimmin'
I do not have any interest or passion for the activity of swimming
I just like chasin'
The only activity that I truly enjoy is pursuing and attempting to attract big butt women
Dem big butt women
Women who possess a notably large rear end, which is the physical feature that appeals to me the most
We goin' do that butt thang
We are going to engage in activities and behaviors that involve and revolve around the buttocks of these women
Kinda like that nookie thang
This is a similar activity to engaging in sexual activities, but centering around the buttocks rather than other parts of the body
We gonna make that butt swing
Our actions and behaviors towards these women will cause their buttocks to move and sway
(Musical Interlude)
A section of the song that is purely instrumental, without lyrics or meaning
Contributed by Matthew R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.