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/
La chanson des pompiers
La Bottine Souriante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ils ont fait un pâté si grand
Triomphe !
Refrain
Les pompiers sont des gaillards, ils pompent ! (bis)
Ils ont fait un pâté si grand (bis)
Triomphe !
Refrain
Qu'y z'ont trouvé un homme dedans (bis)
Ils ont trouvé encore bien plus
Triomphe !
Refrain
Ils ont trouvé encore bien plus (bis)
Ils ont trouvé un chat poilu
Triomphe !
Refrain
Ils ont trouvé un chat poilu (bis)
Qu'avait ben trois cents flûtes au cul
Triomphe !
Refrain
Qu'avait ben trois cents flûtes au cul (bis)
Viens donc m'aider car j'en peux pus
Triomphe !
Refrain
Viens donc m'aider car j'en peux pus (bis)
Toi qui est un si bon siffl'en cul
Triomphe !
Refrain
The song La chanson des pompiers by La Bottine Souriante describes an incident that happened between Paris and Rouen. The firefighters, who are referred to as "gaillards" or strong men, have made a huge meat pie. The repetition of the word "Triomphe" after each verse indicates their victory and pride in creating such an enormous dish. In the second verse, the firefighters discover a man inside the pie, which is a surprising twist in the song. However, in the next verse, they find more unexpected things inside the pie, including a hairy cat with 300 flutes in its behind, which is a humorous addition to the song.
The chorus of the song "Les pompiers sont des gaillards, ils pompent!" is repeated after each verse. This phrase can be interpreted in different ways. "Pomper" means "to pump" and could refer to the firefighting equipment such as hoses and pumps, but it is also a play on words as "pomper" is a slang term for "to have sex." Therefore, the phrase "Les pompiers sont des gaillards, ils pompent" can mean that firefighters are strong men who work hard, or it can be interpreted as a humorous statement about their sexual prowess.
Overall, La chanson des pompiers is a lively and humorous song that celebrates the bravery and witty spirit of firefighters. The repetition of the word "Triomphe" after each verse emphasizes their triumph in creating and discovering unexpected things in the pie. The chorus adds a playful element to the song while also reinforcing the strength and vitality of the firefighters.
Line by Line Meaning
C'est entre Paris et Rouen (bis)
This story takes place somewhere between Paris and Rouen.
Ils ont fait un pâté si grand
Triomphe !
They made a huge mess, but they're proud of it!
Les pompiers sont des gaillards, ils pompent ! (bis)
Firefighters are strong and brave, and they 'pump' (put out fires).
Qu'y z'ont trouvé un homme dedans (bis)
They found a man inside the mess they made.
Ils ont trouvé encore bien plus
Triomphe !
They found even more things in the mess they made, and they're still proud of it.
Ils ont trouvé un chat poilu (bis)
They found a furry cat in the mess.
Qu'avait ben trois cents flûtes au cul
Triomphe !
The cat had 300 flutes attached to its rear end, and the firefighters are excited about it.
Viens donc m'aider car j'en peux pus (bis)
The cat is asking for help, as it can't handle the weight of the flutes anymore.
Toi qui est un si bon siffl'en cul
Triomphe !
The cat is asking for help from someone who is good at 'whistling' (playing the flute) with their rear end, and the firefighters are still excited about it.
Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.