John Kalak
Mes souliers sont rouges Lyrics

The song "John Kalak" by Mes Souliers sont Rouges is about the titular character, John, who wakes up on a whaling ship and ends up being enlisted by a bosco in a tavern. The refrain "tou la hé" adds to the sea shanty feel of the song. The lyrics describe John's experiences aboard the ship, including working hard to raise the sails and not seeing the captain climb up to the mast. The song notes that John has passed through the treacherous Cape Horn three times and has only rested once along the way. Despite being aboard a whaling ship, they have not been successful in hunting whales, as they have only been caught in inclement weather. However, John's journey ends happily in the Marquesas Islands where he finds love with a vahiné and decides not to embark on any more voyages.

The lyrics of the song are a tribute to the sea shanties sung by sailors on board whaling ships in the 19th century. The repetitive refrain "tou la hé" is a form of call and response used by sailors to coordinate their work. The song captures the harsh realities of life at sea, including the grueling labor required to raise the sails and the dangers of rounding Cape Horn. The mention of the Marquesas Islands in the final verse refers to a group of islands in French Polynesia that were an important stopover for whalers in the 19th century.