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/
Le voyage de Basile
La Bottine Souriante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
| Que Basile a eus dans sa vie (bis)
Un jour étant compère
Il était content comme y'en avait guère
| Il attela son p'tit grison
| Harnais doré et bridon d'argent (bis)
S'en va trouvé Nicotte
Quand fut rendu sur le p'tit coteau
Le p'tit ch'val gris prenait le galop (bis)
Malgré qu'il était rosse
Il passait bien à travers les roches
Quand fut rendu dans les ornières
Le p'tit ch'val gris pouvait p'us marcher (bis)
Il dit à sa commère
Je vais débarquer pousser en arrière
| Quand fut venu sur la cantinière
| De l'argent lui en a manqué (bis)
Il dit à sa commère
Prêtez-moi cent francs, j'vous le rendrez guère
| A fallu vendre son calumet
| Tout allumé pis le manche après (bis)
Aussi t-une belle blague
De loup-marin garnie en rasade
| Jamais d'ma vie je n'consentirai
| À être compère si mal agreyé (bis)
Ils disent c'est un scandale
D'être compère obligé de vendr' sa blague
The song Le voyage de Basile by La Bottine Souriante tells the story of Basile and his journey with his friend Nicotte. Basile takes great pleasure in his life, and the song encourages the listener to pay attention to the small moments of happiness in one's life. One day, Basile harnesses his little gray horse with a golden harness and silver reins and goes to find Nicotte, whom he is pleased to see. They ride together, and despite the horse's difficult temperament, they make it through rocky terrain and into a wooded area. However, when they reach a steep hill, the horse becomes so tired that it can no longer move. Basile tells his friend he will push the horse from behind, but when they reach a tavern, he realizes he has run out of money. He asks Nicotte for a hundred francs and promises to repay her soon. However, he cannot repay her and ends up having to sell his smoking pipe, which is lined with sealskin, just to get by.
The song is about the joys, unexpected obstacles, and trials of life. It highlights the importance of cherishing the simple pleasures in life while also acknowledging the difficulties that inevitably arise. The story of Basile and Nicotte's journey captures the listener's heart, and the lyrics encourage the listener to pay attention to the beauty in their own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Écoutez bien les petits plaisirs
Listen closely to the small pleasures
Que Basile a eus dans sa vie (bis)
That Basile has had in his life
Un jour étant compère
One day, being a godfather
Il était content comme y'en avait guère
He was content like he rarely was
Il attela son p'tit grison
He harnessed his little grey horse
Harnais doré et bridon d'argent (bis)
With a golden harness and a silver bridle
S'en va trouvé Nicotte
He went to visit Nicotte
Il était content que le coeur y'en toque
He was happy that his heart was touched
Quand fut rendu sur le p'tit coteau
When he arrived on the little hill
Le p'tit ch'val gris prenait le galop (bis)
The little grey horse started to trot
Malgré qu'il était rosse
Despite it being stubborn
Il passait bien à travers les roches
It went well through the rocks
Quand fut rendu dans les ornières
When he arrived in the ruts
Le p'tit ch'val gris pouvait p'us marcher (bis)
The little grey horse couldn't walk anymore
Il dit à sa commère
He said to his godmother
Je vais débarquer pousser en arrière
I'll get off and push from behind
Quand fut venu sur la cantinière
When he arrived at the refreshment stand
De l'argent lui en a manqué (bis)
He didn't have enough money
Prêtez-moi cent francs, j'vous le rendrez guère
Lend me a hundred francs, I'll pay you back soon
A fallu vendre son calumet
He had to sell his pipe
Tout allumé pis le manche après (bis)
Lit and with the stem attached
Aussi t-une belle blague
It was quite a joke
De loup-marin garnie en rasade
A wolf-fish stewed in gravy
Jamais d'ma vie je n'consentirai
Never in my life will I agree
À être compère si mal agreyé (bis)
To be a godfather if it's so disagreeable
Ils disent c'est un scandale
They say it's a scandal
D'être compère obligé de vendr' sa blague
To be a godfather and forced to sell his pipe
Contributed by Miles B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.