La Bottine Souriante is a folk band from Quebec specialising in traditional… Read Full Bio ↴La Bottine Souriante is a folk band from Quebec specialising in traditional Quebecois music, often with a modern twist.

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 trois capitaines
La Bottine Souriante Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ah! nous étions trois capitaines (bis)
De la guerre en revenant
Brave, brave
De la guerre en revenant oh! bravement (bis)

Nous avons rentré dans un auberge (bis)
Hôtesse as-tu du vin blanc
Brave, brave

Hôtesse as-tu du vin blanc oh! bravement (bis)

Ah! oui grand dieu, m'a dit l'hôtesse (bis)
J'en ai du rouge et du blanc
Brave, brave
J'en ai du rouge et du blanc oh! bravement (bis)

Hôtesse tire-moé une chopine (bis)
Chopinette de vin blanc
Brave, brave
Chopinette de vin blanc oh! bravement (bis)

Et quand la chopine fut bue (bis)
Monsieur payez-moi comptant
Brave, brave
Monsieur payez-moi comptant oh! bravement (bis)

Là, j'ai mis la main dans ma poche (bis)
Pis j'ai sorti trois écus blancs
Brave, brave
J'ai sorti trois écus blancs oh! bravement (bis)

Oh! grand merci, m'a dit l'hôtesse (bis)
Revenez donc plus souvent

Brave, brave
Revenez donc plus souvent oh! bravement (bis)

Overall Meaning

The song "Les trois capitaines" by La Bottine Souriante tells the story of three captains returning from war, and their stop at an inn along the way. The chorus repeats the phrase "Brave, brave" several times, emphasizing the bravery of these soldiers. Upon entering the inn, they ask the hostess for some white wine, to which she responds that she has red and white. They request a small bottle of white wine, and upon finishing it, the hostess asks them to pay. One of the captains reaches into his pocket and pulls out three white coins to pay her. The hostess thanks him and invites them to come back again.

Line by Line Meaning

Ah! nous étions trois capitaines (bis)
We were three war captains

De la guerre en revenant
Returning from war

Brave, brave
Courageous, fierce

Nous avons rentré dans un auberge (bis)
We entered an inn

Hôtesse as-tu du vin blanc
Do you have white wine, hostess?

Ah! oui grand dieu, m'a dit l'hôtesse (bis)
Oh yes, my god, said the hostess

J'en ai du rouge et du blanc
I have red and white

Hôtesse tire-moé une chopine (bis)
Hostess, pour me a pint

Chopinette de vin blanc
A small glass of white wine

Et quand la chopine fut bue (bis)
And when the pint was drank

Monsieur payez-moi comptant
Sir, pay me in cash