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La Bienséance
Plume Latraverse Lyrics
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Ta Rita roter ton ragoût
T'aurais compris que malgré tout
La politesse ça bouche un trou
T'aurais mal pris voir l'onc'René
S'décrotter l'nez pendant l'souper
T'aurais'a journée pour te river
Voir ta famille si bien élevée
Mangeons du bon ragoût
C'est un mets bien d'chez nous
C'est en lichant ton couteau
Qu'tu t'es coupé la lev'd'en haut
C'est en ramassant ta fourchette
Que t'as vomi dans ton assiette
C'est en passant la poivrière
Que t'as éternué dans face d'Albert
C'est en parlant la bouche pleine
Que t'as craché dans l'plat d'la chienne
Mangeons du bon ragoût
C'est un mets bien d'chez nous
Toutes les menteries que j'ai appris
À réciter quand j'étais p'tit
Pis les leçons de bienséance
Qui sont v'nue fucker mon enfance
Me sont très utiles aujourd'hui
Pour faire caca pis faire pipi
On m'a fait manger du papier
Pour que j'puisse chier tout enveloppé
Buvons du Caribou
Et vive les malotrous
Plume Latraverse's "La Bienséance" is a song that satirizes the idea and practice of politeness and etiquette in society. The lyrics mock the hypocrisy of individuals who abide by social norms of politeness but fail to embody them when presented with certain situations.
The first verse suggests that politeness can cover up or mask discomfort or disgust with someone's behavior. If someone were to see their loved one belch while eating, they would find it humorously distasteful but would still maintain some decorum towards them. Similarly, if they were to see someone else pick their nose during a meal, they would have to hold their tongues and maintain a facade of gentility despite being rightly grossed out. The second verse takes this idea to the next level, where complying with etiquette can actually lead to physical harm. The singer sarcastically comments on someone's absurd etiquette involving their cutlery, which ultimately resulted in self-injury. The final verse explores how the idea of "bienséance" or politeness infiltrates every facet of life, including the most basic human functions like defecation. The lyrics suggest that society has ingrained the importance of decorum into people to such an extent that even bathroom habits are subject to social norms.
In conclusion, "La Bienséance" is a witty critique of how society's emphasis on politeness can be suffocating and often contradictory.
Line by Line Meaning
T'aurais ris si t'aurais vu
You would have laughed if you had seen
Ta Rita roter ton ragoût
Your Rita belch over your stew
T'aurais compris que malgré tout
You would have understood that despite everything
La politesse ça bouche un trou
Politeness can cover up a hole
T'aurais mal pris voir l'onc'René
You would have been upset to see Uncle René
S'décrotter l'nez pendant l'souper
Picking his nose during dinner
T'aurais'a journée pour te river
You would have spent your day pinned down
Voir ta famille si bien élevée
Watching your so well-bred family
Mangeons du bon ragoût
Let's eat some good stew
C'est un mets bien d'chez nous
It's a dish that's typical of our region
C'est en lichant ton couteau
It's while licking your knife
Qu'tu t'es coupé la lev'd'en haut
That you cut your upper lip
C'est en ramassant ta fourchette
It's while picking up your fork
Que t'as vomi dans ton assiette
That you threw up in your plate
C'est en passant la poivrière
It's while passing the pepper shaker
Que t'as éternué dans face d'Albert
That you sneezed in Albert's face
C'est en parlant la bouche pleine
It's while talking with your mouth full
Que t'as craché dans l'plat d'la chienne
That you spat in the dog's bowl
Toutes les menteries que j'ai appris
All the lies I learned
À réciter quand j'étais p'tit
To recite when I was little
Pis les leçons de bienséance
And the lessons of decency
Qui sont v'nue fucker mon enfance
That messed up my childhood
Me sont très utiles aujourd'hui
Are very useful to me today
Pour faire caca pis faire pipi
To take a dump and pee
On m'a fait manger du papier
They made me eat paper
Pour que j'puisse chier tout enveloppé
So that I could take a wrapped up dump
Buvons du Caribou
Let's drink Caribou (a Quebec beverage)
Et vive les malotrous
And long live the malotrous (mischievous people)
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.