Born Ida Lee Lewis to a musically talented family in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Queen Ida learned to play accordion from her mother after she spent a few years learning the piano. Her family moved to Beaumont, Texas, when she was ten and eight years later moved to San Francisco, California. Her first language is French, and wherever they went, took their Creole culture and music with them.
In 1988, Queen Ida toured Japan, becoming the first zydeco artist to do so. She toured Africa the following year and in 1990 went to Australia and New Zealand.
On the album Back on the Bayou (1999), Queen Ida got together on the bayou in Louisiana with her brother, Al Rapone, for a zydeco reunion. Rapone often wrote and produced for her and formed the Bon Temps Zydeco Band, which later became Queen Ida's backup group. Doubling up on accordions with her oldest son Myrick "Freeze" Guillory, they are joined by Terry Buddingh on bass, James Santiago on guitar, Bernard Anderson on saxophone, Erik Nielsen on drums, and her youngest daughter Ledra Guillory and son Ron "The Rock" Guillory on rub board and vocals. As "Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band," the ensemble was the musical guest on Saturday Night Live on November 23, 1985, with Paul Reubens as host.
Queen Ida also co-authored a cookbook, Cookin' with Queen Ida in 1990, which featured Creole recipes.
Queen Ida continued to perform live through the 2000s, and though she did not release any albums during this period, she has joined her son Myrick and his band onstage. She officially retired from playing in 2010 and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she enjoys cooking for her friends and family.
Selected discography
1999 Back on the Bayou w/Al Rapone Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2265
1995 Cookin' with Queen Ida Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2197
1995 On a Saturday Night Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2172
1994 Mardi Gras Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2227
1990 Zydeco a La Mode Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNP 2112
1985 Caught in the Act Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2181
1983 In San Francisco Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2158
1982 The Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band on Tour Zydeco GNP Crescendo - GNPD 2147
1980 The Bon Temps Zydeco Band & Queen Ida in New Orleans' Zydeco GNP Crescendo -
1977 Uptown Zydeco Zydeco GNP Crescendo
1977 Zydeco a la mode Zydeco GNP Crescendo
1976 Play the Zydeco Zydeco GNP Crescendo
Awards
Grammy Awards
Won: 1
Nominations: 4
1980 Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording Queen Ida & the Bon Temps Zydeco Band in New Orleans Zydeco Nominated
1982 Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording Queen Ida and the Bon Temps Zydeco Band on Tour Zydeco Winner
Blues Music Awards
Won: 4
Nominations: 6
Queen Ida Blues Music Awards History
1983 Traditional Blues Female Artist Nominated
1984 Traditional Blues Female Artist Nominated
1988 Traditional Blues Female Artist Nominated
1989 Traditional Blues Female Artist Winner
1990 Traditional Blues Female Artist Winner
1991 Traditional Blues Female Artist Nominated
My Girl Josephine
Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you remember me baby like I remember you?
You used to laugh at me and holler "Woo woo woo"
I used to walk you home
I used to hold your hand
You used to use my umbrella ev'ry time it rained
You used to cry so much it was a crying shame
Hello Josephine. How do you do?
Do you remember me baby like I remember you?
You used to laugh at me and holler 'Woo woo woo"
You used to live over yonder by the railroad track.
When it rained you couldn't walk I used to tote you on my back
Now you gotta make believe it was a thrill at that.
Hello Josephine. How do you do?
Do you remember me baby like I remember you?
You used to laugh at me and holler 'Woo woo woo"
In Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band's song titled "My Girl Josephine," the singer addresses a girl named Josephine whom he used to know. The singer asks if Josephine remembers him in the same way that he remembers her. He reminisces about how they used to walk home together, hold hands, and he would offer her his umbrella when it rained. However, he also remembers Josephine crying a lot and feeling ashamed that he couldn't help her more.
In the second verse, the singer talks about how Josephine used to live by the railroad track and when it rained, he would carry her on his back to keep her from getting wet. But now, the singer implies that Josephine exaggerates how exciting those times were. The chorus repeats with the singer asking if Josephine remembers him and her laughing at him with a "woo woo woo" sound.
The song seems to be a nostalgic look back at a past relationship and the memories that come with it. The singer longs to know if Josephine remembers him as fondly as he does her, but also recognizes that their time together was not always perfect. The use of the "woo woo woo" sound adds a playful and perhaps teasing tone to the song, showing that even though there may have been difficulties in their past relationship, there were also moments of joy and laughter.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello Josephine. How do you do?
The singer greets Josephine and asks how she is doing.
Do you remember me baby like I remember you?
The singer asks Josephine if she remembers him as he remembers her.
You used to laugh at me and holler 'Woo woo woo'
The singer recalls how Josephine used to mock him by laughing and making a sound like 'Woo woo woo.'
You used to live over yonder by the railroad track.
The singer remembers where Josephine used to live - 'yonder' meaning 'over there,' and specifying a location by 'the railroad track.'
When it rained you couldn't walk I used to tote you on my back
The singer helped Josephine by carrying her on his back when it rained and the area was muddy.
Now you gotta make believe it was a thrill at that.
The singer finds it ironic that Josephine has to pretend that those moments were exciting or thrilling, when they were just ways to deal with bad weather.
You used to cry so much it was a crying shame
The singer remembers how Josephine used to cry a lot, to the point where it was sad or pitiful.
I used to walk you home
The singer used to accompany Josephine on her way back home.
I used to hold your hand
The singer and Josephine used to hold hands, probably as a sign of affection or to show support.
You used to use my umbrella ev'ry time it rained
The singer provided Josephine with an umbrella every time it rained, in order to keep her dry.
Lyrics © AAT MUSIC, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTOINE DOMINO, DAVE BARTHOLOMEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind