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/
Les P'tits Plaisirs de Basile / Le Reel de la Chicaneuse
La Bottine Souriante Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
| Que Basile a eus dans sa vie (bis)
Un jour? tant comp? re
Il? tait content comme y'en avait gu? re
| Il attela son p'tit grison
| Harnais dor? et bridon d'argent (bis)
S'en va trouv? Nicotte
Quand fut rendu sur le p'tit coteau
Le p'tit ch'val gris prenait le galop (bis)
Malgr? qu'il? tait rosse
Il passait bien? travers les roches
Quand fut rendu dans les orni? res
Le p'tit ch'val gris pouvait p'us marcher (bis)
Il dit? sa comm? re
Je vais d? barquer pousser en arri? re
| Quand fut venu sur la cantini? re
| De l'argent lui en a manqu? (bis)
Il dit? sa comm? re
Pr? tez-moi cent francs, j'vous le rendrez gu? re
| A fallu vendre son calumet
| Tout allum? pis le manche apr? s (bis)
Aussi t-une belle blague
De loup-marin garnie en rasade
| Jamais d'ma vie je n'consentirai
|? tre comp? re si mal agrey? (bis)
Ils disent c'est un scandale
D'? tre comp? re oblig? de vendr' sa blague
The song Les P'tits Plaisirs de Basile / Le Reel de la Chicaneuse by La Bottine Souriante tells the story of Basile and the simple pleasures he enjoyed in life. The song opens with the singer urging the listener to listen closely to the small pleasures Basile had in his life. The first verse narrates how Basile harnessed his little grey horse with a bridle and harness of gold and silver and went to meet his woman, Nicotte. Basile was so happy that his heart was beating faster than ever before.
In the second verse, Basile and his horse galloped up a steep hill despite the horse's rostiness. The little grey horse managed to race through the rocks when they reached the hilltop. However, when they came to a rutted road, the horse became exhausted, and Basile had to request help from his woman to push them back.
In the third verse, Basile had no more money and borrowed from his woman, Nicotte. He had to sell his trusty pipe and even a wolffish to make ends meet. Basile ended the song by stating that he would never be a compere (part of the tradition of making a baptismal commitment to a child) again because it was scandalous to be forced to sell one's belongings to maintain the promise.
Line by Line Meaning
Ecoutez bien les petits plaisirs
Listen carefully to the little pleasures
Que Basile a eus dans sa vie
That Basile had in his life
Un jour à tant comparer
One day, compared to many
Il était content comme y'en avait guère
He was happy like there weren't many
Il attela son p'tit grison
He harnessed his little grey horse
Harnais doré et bridon d'argent
With a golden harness and silver bridle
S'en va trouver Nicotte
He went to find Nicotte
Il était content que le coeur y'en toque
He was happy that his heart was beating
Quand fut rendu sur le p'tit coteau
When he arrived on the small hill
Le p'tit ch'val gris prenait le galop
The little grey horse started to gallop
Malgré qu'il était rosse
Even though it was rough
Il passait bien à travers les roches
It managed 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
The little grey horse could not walk anymore
Il dit à sa commère
He said to his friend
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 canteen
De l'argent lui en a manqué
He ran out of money
Il dit à sa commère
He said to his friend
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
With tobacco still inside and the stem afterwards
Aussi t-une belle blague
It was a good joke
De loup-marin garnie en rasade
A beaver-skin cap with a shot of alcohol
Jamais d'ma vie je n'consentirai
I'll never consent
Être compère si mal agréyé
To be a godfather if so poorly treated
Ils disent c'est un scandale
They say it's a scandal
D'être compère obligé de vendr' sa blague
To be a godfather who is forced to sell his cap
Contributed by Benjamin M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.