Category Archives: 1948–1980

03/13/25

Parlez-nous à boire

Song title: Parlez nous à boire — The Balfa Brothers

A song in the film Southern Comfort (1981)

Strophe Rhyme Line Text
A a 1 Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage
b 2 Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés 
B b 3 Si que tu te maries avec une jolie fille 
b 4 T’es dans les grands dangers, ça va te la voler 
A a 1 Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage
b 2 Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés
B b 5 Si que tu te maries avec une vilaine fille 
b 6 T’es dans les grands dangers, faudra tu fais ta vie avec
A a 1 Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage 
b 2 Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés 
Interlude
A a 1 Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage 
b 2 Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés 
B c 7 Si que tu te maries avec une fille bien pauvre
d 8 T’es dans les grands dangers, faudra travailler tout la vie
A a 1 Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage
b 2 Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés
B e 9 Si que tu te maries avec une fille qu’a de quoi
f 10 T’es dans les grands dangers, tu vas attraper des grands reproches
C g 11 Fameux, toi grand vaurien, qu’a tout gaspillé mon bien 
g 11 Fameux, toi grand vaurien, qu’a tout gaspillé mon bien
A a 1 Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage
b 2 Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés

 

Style: Cajun French Music

Type: Enumerative

Narrative: A song telling people to drink and not get married. Because no matter what kind of girls you marry, you are in great danger.

Translation:

Oh parlez-nous à boire, non pas du marriage

Oh, let’s talk about drinking and not about marriage

Toujours en regrettant, nos jolis temps passés

Always regretting our pretty time past

Si que tu te maries, avec une jolie fille,

If you marry a pretty girl,

T’es dans les grands dangers, ça va te la voler.

You’re in great danger, someone’s going to steal her.

Refrain

Si que tu te maries avec une vilaine fille 

If you marry an ugly girl,

T’es dans les grands dangers, faudra tu fais ta vie avec 

You’re in great danger, you’ll have to live with her

Refrain

Si que tu te maries avec une fille bien pauvre 

If you marry a very poor girl,

T’es dans les grands dangers, faudra travailler tout la vie 

You’re in great danger, you’ll have to work all your life.

Refrain

Si que tu te maries avec une fille qu’a de quoi 

If you marry a rich girl,

T’es dans les grands dangers, tu vas attraper des grands reproches 

You’re in great danger, you’ll get great reproaches

Fameux, toi grand vaurien, qu’a tout gaspillé mon bien (bis)

Damned you, great good-for-nothing, you spilled all my possessions. (twice)

Source:

03/13/25

La chanson de la Grenouillère

Song title: La Chanson de la Grenouillère

Source: Recording from The Canadian Museum of History

Strophe Rhyme Line Text
A a 1 Voulez vous écouter chanter, Une chanson de verité
b 2 Dix-neuf des gens d’arrière,
B a 3 là-bande des bois brûlés sont arrivés
c 4 comme des bravieri.
C d 6 En arrivant de la gare nordière,
e 7 nous avons pris trois prisonniers.
D f 8 J’avance armée, Puis quittons son armée
f 9 Deux sur la bande, Quatre ou cinq sont sauvés.
g 10 Les gouverneurs qui s’écroient l’Empereur,
g 11 ils l’attagisent avec rigueur
h 12 Les gouverneurs qui l’étaient enragés,
h 13 elles détachaient les soldats tirés.
E i 14 Le premier coup,
g 15 c’est l’Anglais que a tiré l’ambassadeur.
j 16 Il a menté tué.
k 17 Si vous avez vu ces Anglais, des tous ces bois brûlés après,
B l 18 de bête en bête, les Anglais tuent vite les bois brûlés
m 19 en chantant des cris des joies.
D n 20 Il a composé la chanson
n 21 Pierre et Falcon, ce bon garçon
A o 23 À l’altifète que composé, chantons la gloire
p 24 que nous avons gagné.
B o 25 À l’altifète qui compose, sur la victoire
p 24 que nous avons gagné.

Note: I used any2text.com to transcribe this song as I cannot understand French and was not able to find the lyrics online.

*I am not confident about the strophes labelling here nor some of the lyrics as I know AI isn’t too accurate

 

English Translation from here: Lyrics Source (also cited in suggested sources)

Would you care to hear sung  

A song of truth? 

Last June 19th,  

The band of Bois-brûlés arrived — 

A band of brave warriors. 

  

When we got to la Grenouillère, 

We took three prisoners. 

We had surrounded  

Almost all of their army below the hill; 

Only four or five of them escaped.    

  

The governor, imagining himself an emperor, 

Responded harshly. 

The governor, filled with rage, 

Told his soldiers — Fire! 

The first shot  

Was fired by the English. Our ambassador,  

Was nearly killed. 

  

You should have seen the English  

And all the Bois-brûlés chasing them!  

From hill to hill,  

The English fell. The Bois-brûlés 

Shouted for joy!    

  

Who composed this song?  

Good old Pierriche Falcon!  

It was written  

And composed to sing of the glory  

That was ours. 

It was written  

And composed to sing of the victory  

That was ours

Commentary

1 “La Chanson de la Grenouillère,” or “The Song of Frog Plain,” goes beyond a catchy tune—it’s a powerful ballad with deep historical roots, crafted by Métis poet and Northwest Company clerk Pierre Falcon (1793–1876). This song pays tribute to the Métis victory at the Battle of Seven Oaks on June 19, 1816, which stands as a key moment in Métis history. Falcon’s song is an early celebration of Métis identity and strength, displaying their resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics vividly recount the battle, emphasizing the courage of the Métis fighters and the strategic blunders of their opponents. One of the emphasizes in the song is how the Métis outmaneuvered the enemy, eventually leading to their major victory.

1 The Battle of Seven Oaks happened during a time of rising tension between the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and the Northwest Company (NWC), both vying for dominance in the fur trade around the Red River Valley. The Métis, who were allied with the NWC, were frustrated with the HBC’s restrictive practices that threatened their livelihoods and way of life. When the dust settled at Seven Oaks, the HBC had lost 21 men, including Governor Robert Semple, while the Métis faced only minor losses.

Right from the start, the song invites listeners to tune in to a “song of truth,” promising an authentic retelling of the battle. The Métis warriors, fondly called “Bois-Brûlés,” are depicted as heroic and clever, making tactical moves to capture prisoners and outflank their foes. In contrast, the governor is portrayed as a bit of a braggart, thinking of himself as an emperor, which proves to be a costly mistake. This portrayal really drives home the song’s message about Métis unity and their determination to resist outside control. The song’s lyrics radiate bravery and defiance, detailing the courage displayed by the Métis in the face of violent confrontations. For instance, the line “le premier coup, c’est l’Anglais qui a tiré l’ambassadeur,” which translates to “the first shot is the English who shot the ambassador,” captures an important moment in their fight for survival and rights. This imagery paints a vivid picture of the physical battles while also simplifying psychological impacts of conflict on the Métis community.

2 “La Chanson de la Grenouillère” is typically sung in a folk style that reflects the oral traditions of the Métis culture. You’ll often hear it sung a cappella or possibly accompanied by simple instruments like the fiddle or guitar—both of which are essential to Métis musical heritage. The melody is lively and rhythmic, making it perfect for community gatherings where singing and dancing unite people and strengthen their bonds.

Related Sources

Cass-Beggs, Barbara. Seven Metis Songs of Saskatchewan. 2025. BMI Canada Limited, 1967, pp. 5–26.

Chartrand, Margaret, and Denise Ménard. “Pierre Falcon.” Www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, 21 Feb. 2008, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/pierre-falcon. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Giroux, Monique. “Singing for Frog Plain.” Ethnologies, vol. 37, no. 1, May 2017, pp. 43–64, https://doi.org/10.7202/1039655ar. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Ingraham, Mary I., and Robert C. Rival. Reflections on Malcolm Forsyth. 2025. University of Alberta, 2019, pp. 49–77.

Suggested Sources

Canadian Museum of History. “La Chanson de La Grenouillère.” Teachers’ Zone | Canadian Museum of History, 1957, www.historymuseum.ca/teachers-zone/think-like-a-historian-working-with-primary-source-evidence/audio/la-chanson-de-la-grenouillere/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

References

  1. Barkwell, Lawrence. “Bataille de La Grenouillère | l’Encyclopédie Canadienne.” Www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca, 7 Feb. 2006, www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/fr/article/seven-oaks-incident-de. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
  2. Canadian Geographic. “Music and Dance.” Indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca, 25 Sept. 2018, indigenouspeoplesatlasofcanada.ca/article/music-and-dance/. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
  3. Canadian Geographic. Indigenous Peoples Atlas of Canada. 2025. Canadian Geographic, 2018.
  4. Wright, Heather. “La Dernière Bataille de La Grenouillère – Histoire Canada.” Histoirecanada.ca, 1 Jan. 2019, www.histoirecanada.ca/consulter/paix-et-conflit/la-derniere-bataille-de-la-grenouillere. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
03/13/25

Pagayez

Strophe Rhyme Line Text
A a 1 Pagayez chers camarades, pagayez
a 2 Encore loin pour faire la fin de la journée
b 3 J’suis voyageur des eaux et coureur des bois
b 4 Depuis l’nord Manitoba aux Illinois
A’ c* 5 J’connais toutes les rivières, tous les ruisseaux*
c* 6 Depuis l’île d’Orléans, jusqu’à la terre haute*
B 7 Courir, courir, courir, courir, courir dans l’bois
8 Aussi longtemps, aussi longtemps, aussi longtemps
A d 9 Dans la ville de Montréal, y a une belle brune
d 10 À laquelle je donnerais toute ma fortune
e 11 Elle a les yeux couleur du fond d’un lac glacé
e 12 C’est en bas ses couvertures, j’veux me réchauffer
A f* 13 Si j’avais un dernier souhait, pour toute ma vie*
f* 14 Je d’manderais à la pleine lune nous réunir*
g 15 Avec sa lumière, faire une corde pour attacher
g 16 Ce grand bois avec le coin de son foyer
B 7 Courir, courir, courir, courir, courir dans l’bois
8 Aussi longtemps, aussi longtemps, aussi longtemps
A i 17 Allez mes braves, allons se mettre sur le chemin
i 18 Faudra pas qu’l’hiver vienne nous prendre avant la St-Quantin
j 19 Si la tempête nous attrape pas, je ferai un vœu
j 20 De passer le mois de janvier auprès de son feu
A’ k 21 Allez mes braves, allez amis, allons, allez
k 2 Encore loin pour faire la fin de la journée

Artist: Zachary Richard (b. 1950)

Rhyme scheme: rimes plates

*These rhymes are based on the singer’s pronunciation of the words. “Ruisseaux” rhymes with the pronounced “hau” and “vie” rhymes with the pronounced “réuni”.

Rhyme type: pauvres

Context: This is not a folk song, but speaks of themes related to the lives of voyageurs and coureurs du bois.

Narrative: The song is about a group of voyageurs who are paddling along a body of water. One of them sings about a woman he misses who lives in Montreal. He wishes they could be reunited. The voyageurs continue their journey, attempting to beat a winter storm before they can stop paddling for the day.

Musical/Stylistic Elements: Many elements in this contemporary song evoke ties to the voyageurs and their folk music.

In the second couplet (Dans la ville de Montreal), a chorus of men begin to interject with the main singer, singing “Hé,hé,hé”. This sound in particular is very ingrained as belonging to voyageur culture (the slogan for Winnipeg’s Festival du voyageur, for example, is “Hé, ho!”).

Another element that enriches the narrative of the story is in the opening seconds. A woman sings/speaks, and, while I am not 100% sure, I believe these are Indigenous words. The union the voyageur sings of, would then be between a European man and an Indigenous woman, something that was common and led to the birth of the Metis identity.

The instrumentation very clearly belongs to the rock genre. I hear guitars, bass, and drums along with the aforementioned backup singers.

Suggested sources:

Related Contents:

  • Radio-Canada, ed. “D’où Vient Le ‘Hé Ho!’?” Ici Manitoba, February 16, 2019. https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1153321/festival-voyageur-louis-boys.

Related links:

Les voyageurs

Zachary Richard

Translation 

Paddle dear friends, paddle

Still further to go before we can end our day

I’m a voyageur of the waters and a coureur des bois
From the north of Manitoba to Illinois

I know all the rivers, all the streams

From L’Île d’Orléans, to the highlands

Run, run, run, run, run in the woods

For as long, for as long, for as long

In the city of Montreal, there’s a beautiful brunette
To whom I would give all my fortune

She has eyes the colour of the bottom of a frozen lake
Her blankets are downstairs, I want to warm up

If I had one last wish, for all my life

I’d ask the full moon to reunite us

With its light, I’d make a rope to join

These large woods with the corner of her house

Run, run, run, run, run in the woods

For as long, for as long, for as long

Go my brave ones, let’s get back on the trail

We don’t want winter to reach us before St-Quantin

If the storm doesn’t catch us, I’ll make a wish

To spend the month of January by her fire

Go my brave ones, go my friends, let’s go, go

Still further to go before we can end our day

01/16/25

Suzie LeBlanc (1961–)

Introduction

Suzie LeBlanc is a soprano, a teacher, an actress, and a harpsichordist. She was born in Edmunston in 1961. She has an Acadian heritage (an ethnic group descended from the French who settled in North America) but grew up listening to and practicing classical music.

Early life and education

LeBlanc studied harpsichord, with singing as a second subject at CEGEP St-Laurent, Montreal. Later, she joined the women’s trio Musica Secreta on their tour of Western Canada. She moved to Europe to study voice a few years later and was eventually offered a singing part with The Consort Musicke. 

Career

LeBlanc specialized in baroque and classical repertoire. However, her career is also inextricably linked to her Acadian heritage. As a recording artist, she has contributed to numerous Acadian recordings. She has recorded many unpublished works, including Chants d’Acadie: Tout Passé, a collection of mainly Acadian songs. Her album La Mer Jolie, Chants d’Acadie celebrates the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the French settlers. 

As a performer, she has appeared in recitals with many leading early music ensembles and performers, performing pieces like L’Incoronazione di Poppea in L’Opera de Montreal and Grand Messe by Gilles Vigneault (a Quebec singer-songwriter) during Quebec City’s 400th anniversary year.

As a teacher, she has taught at the University of Montréal (2000-9), McGill University (2008-9), and the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal (2009). In 2005 she became the artistic director of Le Nouvel Opéra.

LeBlanc has been a great musician, she inherited her heritage and dedicated herself to Acadian music. 

 

Suggested Sources:

  • Ellis, Andrea , and Jennifer Gillis. “Suzie LeBlanc.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published March 10, 2013; Last Edited December 14, 2013.
01/16/25

La Bottine Souriante (1976–)

La Bottine souriante are a Québécois folk revival band, formed in 1976 by Yves Lambert and others in his home city of Joliette.[1] Since their founding during a peak period of Québec nationalism, they have become one of the most important disseminators of Québécois folk music, both within the province and internationally; many important Québécois folk musicians have at some time played with the group.[2]

Since their first album, Y’a ben du changement (1978), their music has been received with success: they recorded 14 studio albums with Lambert from 1976 to 2003, winning two Juno awards and eight Prix Félix during this time. La Bottine souriante continues to tour extensively around Europe and Canada,[3] and is especially popular in the USA.[1] They have also been politically active, and campaigned for “Yes” in the 1980 Québec referendum.

The personnel in the band have changed extensively since their founding; the current lineup consists of Eric Beaudry, David Boulanger, Robert Ellis, Jean Fréchette, Jean-François Gagnon-Branchaud, Mathieu Gagné, Jocelyn Lapointe, Olivier Salazar, Sandy Silva, Timi Turmel, and André Verreault, with Lambert having left in 2003. Founding members included Mario Forest, Lambert, André Marchand, Gilles Cantin, and Pierre Laporte, and many other musicians have been involved with the group both as core members and as guest artists. The instrumentation consists of common French-Canadian folk instruments (accordion, guitar, fiddle, harmonica, mandolin, jaw harp) as well as elements of Celtic and Irish music, brass instruments, and more recently jazz-inspired piano and bass.[4] The group has a long history with 16 studio albums and numerous guest appearances over their almost 50-year history. Some suggested listening has been included below.

Since much of their music is intended for dance, foot-tapping is featured prominently (e.g. the opening track Cette bouteille-là from Appellation d’origine contrôlée). This particular album also features percussive dancing by Sandy Silva as part of the music.[5] In this album, the title relates to an agricultural label (AOC) which designates local products produced in a particular region, perhaps to evoke an organic, agrarian aesthetic (though the instrumentals in this album contain a curious fusion of big band and funk not heard in their earlier output). The galloping rhythms are a commonality across much of their musical output across time, and can be also heard as early as in Y’a ben du changement. Alternation between songs and instrumental dance pieces also persists across albums, and many techniques (e.g. call and response) remain the same.

Suggested Sources:

  1. “La Bottine souriante.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published February 07, 2006; Last Edited December 15, 2013.
  2. Thérien, Robert. “La Bottine souriante.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published August 21, 2006; Last Edited December 16, 2013.
  3. Noakes, Taylor. “Yves Lambert.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. Article published September 7, 2022; last edited September 7, 2022.
  4. Wikipedia Editors. “La Bottine souriante.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Bottine_Souriante
  5. Romero, Angel. “Foot Tapping Good.” Review of Appellation d’origine contrôlée by La Bottine souriante (Borealis, 2011). World Music Central. https://worldmusiccentral.org/2012/01/13/foot-tapping-good/

Suggested Listening:

Related Links:

01/15/25

Le fleuve (1973)

It passes like a dream Ça passe comme un rêve
 Between our gray banks Entre nos rives grises
It carries like a taste Ça charrie comme un goût
To go and look further D’aller chercher plus loin
It’s like a little of the open sea C’est comme un peu du large
Spread out in our streets Ecarté dans nos rues
Of the open sea that we call Du large qu’on appelle
And that we never take Et qu’on ne prend jamais
The river the river Le fleuve le fleuve
 

Sometimes when my heart

 Des fois quand j’ai le cœur
Is sickened by being in the city Ecœuré d’être en ville
I come to see him pass by Je viens le voir passer
With my feet glued to the ground Les pieds vissés à terre
But my eyes have flown Mais les yeux envolés
Towards the east, further than the island Vers l’est plus loin que l’île
Where the horizon tilts Où l’horizon bascule
And the banks are lost Et les rives se perdent
 

The river the river

 Le fleuve le fleuve
With the wind that it makes Avec le vent qu’il fait
Ruffling the smoke Décoiffant les fumées
I invent the storms J’invente les tempêtes
And the blows that I miss Et les coups qu’il me manque
As with the cargo ships Comme avec les cargos
Which are all foreign Qui sont tous étrangers
I remake boats Je refais des bateaux
Which would belong to us Qui nous appartiendraient
 

The river the river

 Le fleuve le fleuve
And it’s a little bit of me Et c’est un peu de moi
And it’s a lot of us Et c’est beaucoup de nous
That he takes with him Qu’il emporte avec lui
Towards tides elsewhere Vers des marées d’ailleurs
While the birds Tandis que les oiseaux
Linger on the quays S’attardent sur les quais
I come back another time Je rentre une autre fois
Without having really seen Sans l’avoir vraiment vu
The river the river Le fleuve le fleuve 

Author: Sylvain Lelièvre
Lyrics source: Musixmatch
Suggested Sources:
01/15/25

Si les bateaux (1963)

Si les bateaux que nous avons bâtis
If the ships that we builtPrennent la mer avant que je revienne
Take to the sea before I should returnCargue ta voile, aussi la mienne
Furl your sail, and mine tooFais comme si, fais comme si
Act as if, act as ifNous en étions toujours les capitaines
We were always its captainsNous en étions toujours les capitaines
We were always its captains

Profond comme au large de l'île
Deep as the waters off the coast of the islandDoux comme une aile d'istorlet
Soft as the wing of a tern
Loin comme l'Angleterre
As far as EnglandJe t'aimerai
I’ll love youJe t'aimerai
I’ll love you

Si les trésors dont nous avions la clef
If the treasures to which we hold the keyLe plan, la carte et la belle aventure
The chart, the map, and the great adventureN'étaient que rêve et qu'imposture
Were all but dreams and deceptionÉvoque-les, évoque-les
Recall them, recall themPar des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures
Through flags added on the mastsPar des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures
Through flags added on the masts

Profond comme au large de l'île
Deep as the waters off the coast of the islandDoux comme une aile d'istorlet
Soft as the wing of a tern
Loin comme l'Angleterre
As far as EnglandJe t'aimerai
I’ll love youJe t'aimerai
I’ll love you

Si je me fais facteur ou jardinier
If I become a postman or gardenerNe me viens plus parler de contrebande
Never speak to me again of smugglingMais si tu veux que je me pende
But, if you would like me to hang myselfAu grand hunier, au grand hunier
From the topsail, from the topsailRaconte-moi que tu as vu l'Irlande
Tell me that you’ve seen IrelandRaconte-moi que tu as vu l'Irlande
Tell me that you’ve seen Ireland

Profond comme au large de l'île
Deep as the waters off the coast of the islandDoux comme une aile d'istorlet
Soft as the wing of a tern
Loin comme l'Angleterre
As far as EnglandJe t'aimerai
I’ll love youJe t'aimerai
I’ll love you

Translated by: Jason, Isaac, and Simon

Interpretation based on translation:

An ode to the sea, to love, and to travel. Expresses love, nostalgia, and melancholic memories. Maybe the “ships” are metaphors for dreams and aspirations.

Author: Gilles Vigneault

Lyrics Source: Musxmatch

 

Suggested Sources:

Recording by Gilles Vigneault: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti4JEaLX4WU

01/15/25

Le ciel se marrie avec la mer (1957)

[Couplet 1]
La mer a mis sa robe verte
Et le ciel bleu son œillet blanc
Elle a voulu être coquette
Pour dire au ciel en s’éveillant:

[Refrain]
«N’oublie pas mon cœur, ni la fleur, ni le jonc
N’oublie pas surtout que demain nous nous marierons»

[Couplet 2]
Les pieds dans les sables des dunes
Je les ai vus qui s’embrassaient
À l’ombre des joncs des lagunes
Et puis la mer qui lui disait

[Refrain]
«N’oublie pas mon cœur, ni la fleur, ni le jonc
N’oublie pas surtout que demain nous nous marierons»

[Couplet 3]
Une fleur à la boutonnière
Le lendemain se mariait
Le ciel au bras de la mer fière
D’avoir du soleil en bouquet

[Outro]
Il y avait leurs cœurs et les fleurs et le jonc
Chaque jour depuis mille fois, revit cette chanson

Author/composer: Jacques Blanchet

Lyrics Source: Genius.com

Suggested Sources:

Panthéon posting: https://www.cshf.ca/fr/song/le-ciel-se-marie-avec-la-mer/

Recording with Jacques Blanchet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK_K4iS8hSM

Recording with Lucille Dumont: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8f8MVRhx3c