Formed in 1976, they have toured extensively through North America and Europe. As well as the traditional accordion, fiddle, guitar, piano and double bass, the band added a four-piece horn section in 1990 which gives an element of jazz to the music. In 1998, they contributed a song to the Canadian Celtic music compilation by The Chieftains, Fire in the Kitchen.
The group's name means "the smiling boot", which refers to the appearance of a work boot with worn-out soles.
They have received three Canadian Juno awards and several Felix awards from the Quebec recording industry. They are known for their high energy live performances and in 2000 were voted Best Live Act at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. BBC Radio 3 has also played their music in mainstream programmes.
See their website: http://www.bottinesouriante.com/
Corps mort
La Bottine Souriante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
À quoi ça sert-il d'être aimer
Voilà mon camarade à terre
Il a la vie toute étirée
Car il est mort le pauvre corps
Pour le réveiller trinquons la bouteille
Refrain
T'en iras-tu sans prendre un verre ?
T'en iras-tu sans boire ? (bis)
Beau médecin belle médecine
Venez donc lui tâter le pouls
Vous le verrez bien à sa mine
S'il est mort ou bien s'il est saoûl
Car il est mort le pauvre corps
Pour le réveiller trinquons la bouteille
Refrain
Mais tu t'en vas dans l'autre monde
Là où il n'y a point de cabarets
Là où il n'u a ni brunes ni blondes
Pour te verser ton vin clairet
Car il est mort le pauvre corps
Pour le réveiller trinquons la bouteille
The lyrics to La Bottine Souriante's song "Corps Mort" deal with death and the mourning process, but with a twist of humor and irony. The song starts by questioning the futility of attracting admiration and love, as the singer's comrade lies on the ground, dead. The repetitive question of "dors-tu" (do you sleep?) aimed at the dead body creates a sense of detachment and surrealism. The refrain, translated as "Dead body, do you sleep? Will you go away without having a drink? Will you go away without drinking?", emphasizes the absurdity of using alcohol as a remedy for death.
The lyrics then introduce a "beautiful doctor" who tries to check the pulse of the dead body to assess if he is simply drunk or genuinely dead. This scene is equally absurd and adds to the humorous tone of the song. However, the final verse brings a somber mood to the song as it acknowledges the finality of death and the eternal separation it brings, even from earthly pleasures such as wine.
Overall, "Corps Mort" can be interpreted as a commentary on the way society copes with death, or perhaps on the fleeting nature of life, and how we try to defy or overlook it.
Line by Line Meaning
À quoi ça sert-il de tant plaire
What is the purpose of trying so hard to please others?
À quoi ça sert-il d'être aimer
What is the purpose of being loved?
Voilà mon camarade à terre
Look at my friend on the ground,
Il a la vie toute étirée
His life has been stretched out
Car il est mort le pauvre corps
Because his poor body is dead
Pour le réveiller trinquons la bouteille
Let's toast to waking him up
Refrain
Chorus
Corps mort dors-tu ?
Dead body, are you sleeping?
T'en iras-tu sans prendre un verre ?
Will you leave without having a drink?
T'en iras-tu sans boire ? (bis)
Will you leave without drinking? (repeat)
Beau médecin belle médecine
Beautiful doctor, beautiful medicine
Venez donc lui tâter le pouls
Come and feel his pulse
Vous le verrez bien à sa mine
You'll see from his face
S'il est mort ou bien s'il est saoûl
If he's dead or just drunk
Mais tu t'en vas dans l'autre monde
But you're going to the other world
Là où il n'y a point de cabarets
Where there are no bars
Là où il n'u a ni brunes ni blondes
Where there are no brunettes or blondes
Pour te verser ton vin clairet
To pour you your clear wine
Car il est mort le pauvre corps
Because his poor body is dead
Pour le réveiller trinquons la bouteille
Let's toast to waking him up
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.