Gilles Vigneault (born 27 October 1928) is a Québécois poet, publisher and … Read Full Bio ↴Gilles Vigneault (born 27 October 1928) is a Québécois poet, publisher and singer-songwriter, and well-known Quebec nationalist and sovereigntist.
A poet deeply rooted in his native Quebec, Vigneault has become an icon at home and Quebec ambassador abroad. He was one of the principal figures of the generation of chansonniers who helped the Quebec chanson find its own identity, even while helping it find a universal dimension.

Born in Natashquan, on the far north shore of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, he was educated in Rimouski and Quebec City.
Vigneault started writing poetry during his studies at the Seminary in Rimouski, and by the 1950s was publishing poems and writing songs. In 1959 he founded a publishing house, Les Éditions de l'Arc to distribute his publications. His first collection, Étraves was published in 1959.
In August 1960, at the request of the audience at the boîte à chansons L'Arlequin in Quebec City, he agreed to sing his earliest song: Jos Monferrand, written in 1957, which had been recorded by Jacques Labrecque in 1959. This was the beginning of his singing career which culminated in 1962, when he received the Grand prix du disque from Montreal radio station CKAC. His reputation grew in Quebec and elsewhere with the success of his song Mon Pays, from the sound track of the NFB film La neige a fondu sur la Manicouagan (1965).
In the last half of the 1960s, Vigneault started to perform outside of Quebec, notably in France, but also elsewhere in Canada, including appearances at the Mariposa Folk Festival and at Massey Hall, in Toronto.
The mid-1970s saw Vigneault's participation in several major events. On August 13, 1974 130,000 spectators came together on the Plains of Abraham for the Superfrancofête, where Vigneault participated in an historic concert alongside Félix Leclerc, a representative, in a way, of the older generation, and Robert Charlebois, of the younger generation. A highpoint of the concert was the threesome's rendition of Raymond Lévesque's powerful Quand les hommes vivront d'amour.
On June 24, 1975, during a Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day concert on Montreal's Mount Royal, Vigneault sang for the first time Gens du pays, a song which has since become a sort of anthem in Quebec.
In 1976, the Ensemble Claude Gervaise recorded an album of Vigneault's music entitled Tout l'monde est malheureux: "Claude Gervaise" Joue Vigneault.
An ardent Quebec nationalist, Vigneault was disappointed by the results of the 1980 Quebec referendum. During the 1980s he lived in France for a short time.

Si les bateaux
Gilles Vigneault Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Doux comme une aile d’istorlet
Loin comme l’Angleterre
Je t’aimerai
Je t’aimerai

Si les trésors dont nous avions la clef
Le plan, la carte et la belle aventure
N’étaient que rêve et qu’imposture
Évoque-les, évoque-les
Par des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures
Par des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures

Profond comme au large de l’île
Doux comme une aile d’istorlet
Loin comme l’Angleterre
Je t’aimerai
Je t’aimerai

Si je me fais facteur ou jardinier
Ne me viens plus parler de contrebande
Mais si tu veux que je me pende
Au grand hunier, au grand hunier
Raconte-moi que tu as vu l’Irlande
Raconte-moi que tu as vu l’Irlande

Profond comme au large de l’île
Doux comme une aile d’istorlet
Loin comme l’Angleterre

Je t’aimerai
Je t’aimerai

Overall Meaning

The song "Si les bateaux" by Gilles Vigneault narrates the story of two people who have built boats together. As the singer goes away for some reason, he suggests to his partner that they should still act as if they are the captains of the boats they have built. He says that even if they cannot physically sail together on their boats, they can still remember and cherish their shared memories. The singer then expresses his unwavering love for his partner, even though they might not be able to fulfill their dreams of exploring treasures and adventures together. He proclaims that his love is "Deep as the sea surrounding the island, soft as the wing of a bird, far as England."

The second verse of the song brings up the possibility that their shared dreams might not come true, and their plans could just be mere fantasies. However, the singer suggests that they can still hold on to them and remember them fondly by hoisting more flags on their boats' masts. In the last verse, the singer speaks of the changes that life might bring, and if he becomes a postman or a gardener, his partner should not speak to him of smuggling. However, if the partner ever visits Ireland, she should tell him so, and he will live vicariously through her experiences.

Overall, "Si les bateaux" is a song that speaks of love, devotion, and shared memories. Despite the possibility of plans not coming through and lives changing, the singer suggests that they should hold on to the memories they share and cherish them.

Line by Line Meaning

Si les bateaux que nous avons bâtis Prennent la mer avant que je revienne Cargue ta voile, aussi la mienne Fais comme si, fais comme si Nous en étions toujours les capitaines Nous en étions toujours les capitaines
If the boats we built Set sail before I return Hoist your sail, and mine too Act as if, act as if We were still the captains We were still the captains

Profond comme au large de l’île Doux comme une aile d’istorlet Loin comme l’Angleterre Je t’aimerai Je t’aimerai
Deep as the waters off the island Soft as a wing of an istorlet Far as England I will love you I will love you

Si les trésors dont nous avions la clef Le plan, la carte et la belle aventure N’étaient que rêve et qu’imposture Évoque-les, évoque-les Par des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures Par des drapeaux de plus dans les mâtures
If the treasures we held the key to The plans, the maps, and the grand adventure Were just a dream and a deception Invoke them, invoke them With more flags up in the riggings With more flags up in the riggings

Si je me fais facteur ou jardinier Ne me viens plus parler de contrebande Mais si tu veux que je me pende Au grand hunier, au grand hunier Raconte-moi que tu as vu l’Irlande Raconte-moi que tu as vu l’Irlande
If I become a postman or a gardener Don't talk to me about smugglers anymore But if you want me to climb up To the main-topmast, to the main-topmast Tell me you saw Ireland Tell me you saw Ireland

Lyrics © Évangeline/APEM
Written by: Gilles Vigneault

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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