1) A Montreal, Can… Read Full Bio ↴There are, at least, three artists named The Box.
1) A Montreal, Canada new wave band, formed 1981 by Jean-Marc Pisapia (an early member of Men Without Hats). The band was re-started, in 2003, with new lineup.
Originally, Jean-Marc recruited guitarist Guy Florent and bassist Jean-Pierre Brie for the band, who were originally known as Checkpoint Charlie before settling on the name The Box. After a 15-year hiatus the band released their fifth album, the progressive-rock flavored "Black Dog There" on Komfy-Universal. They released an all-French concept album in 2010 - "Le Horla De Maupassant" theBoxBand.com
2) Sheffield group 1981-1985, formed out of the ashes of the first Clock DVA. Former DVA members Paul Widger, Charlie Collins and Roger Quail linked up with bassman Terry Todd, and worked with several vocalists including Ken Bingley and Stephen Mallinder (of Cabaret Voltaire) before recruiting Peter Hope. The Box were the first group to sign for Go! Discs for whom they released 2 LPs and several singles. Parting company in 1984 they released further records on the Cabs' Doublevision imprint before splitting in 1985. Several members were later involved with the groups Flex 13, Pete Hope & The Jonathan S. Podmore Method and Hula.
Discography:
Secrets Out (UK Go! Discs, 1983)
The Box EP (UK Go! Discs, 1983)
Great Moments in Big Slam (UK Go! Discs, 1984)
Muscle In EP (UK Doublevision, 1985)
Muscle Out (UK Rough Trade, 1985)
3) AKA TACS, an MC/Producer from Oceanside,CA (San Diego) The core member of the short lived group PandorasBox, TACS is back as THE BOX with help from good friend and label mate Reason the Citizen. He is a firm believer in the DIY ethic.
L'affaire Dumoutier
The Box Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Very early in the morning,
The results of a crime were found
In the stables of "le père Choupon".
The old man had discovered
To his absolute dismay,
The dislocated body
So,
The police was called in;
I was handed an inquiry.
Upon arriving on the scene
Some photographs were shot.
A couple of small time journalists
Were rising their fists among the croud
"C'est l'jeune Austin l'coupable!
C'est lui qu'a fait l'coup, j'vous dis moi!..."
"Viens voir là toi...
Et comment c'est que vous savez ça vous deux?"
"He! Normal!...
Tout le monde les a vu quitter le bal ensemble heir soir!"
Walking... Walking...
On the tightrope of insanity.
Walking... Walking...
On the verge of losing mind.
Walking... Walking...
On the tightrope of insanity.
Walking... Walking...
On the verge of losing mind.
A man was found on a nearby road,
Wandering without a goal.
In a complete state of amnesia
And his hair filled with straw.
Though the whole thing seemed unreal,
It soon became quite clear
That Austin, the author of this crime,
Needed swift assistance.
"Allez, allez là... Mr. Le Commissaire!
Maintenant il va nous faire le coup du type
Qui se rappelle de rein!"
"Toi, je t'interdis du publier tes salades
Dans ton canard de merde jusqu'à ce que
Le proces soit terminé!"
Walking... Walking...
On the tightrope of insanity.
Walking... Walking...
On the verge of losing mind.
Walking... Walking...
On the tightrope of insanity.
Walking... Walking...
On the verge of losing mind.
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Oh say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
Exhaustive study on the subject
Led experts to conclude,
Austin had been the victim of a strange case
Of split personality.
The trial neared it's end
And though the facts had been exposed,
The crowd still wanted blood.
Well, they were in for a big surprise!
"La cour,... levez-vous."
Walking... Walking...
On the tightrope of insanity.
Walking... Walking...
On the verge of losing mind.
Walking... Walking...
On the tightrope of insanity.
Walking... Walking...
On the verge of losing mind.
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Oh say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Oh say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Say... Say to me...
Please say that this can't be!"
"Non coupable!
Pour cause d'aliénation mentale..."
The Box's song "L'affaire Dumoutier" tells the story of a crime committed on October 14th in the stables of "le père Choupon". The body of Elizabeth Dumoutier was found dislocated, causing the police to be called in to investigate. The singer is handed the inquiry and arrives on the scene to take photographs. Small-time journalists were pointing fingers at a young man named Austin, accusing him of committing the crime. Austin is later found wandering on a nearby road in a state of amnesia, with straw in his hair, leading experts to conclude he suffered from split personality. Though the trial nears its end, and the facts had been exposed, the crowd still wanted blood until the verdict of "non coupable" (not guilty) was given, for reasons of mental alienation.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a crime and the subsequent investigation into it. The use of split personality adds a layer of intrigue and mystery to the story, leaving the listener questioning the narrative and the intent behind it. The singer's tone emphasizes the insanity and loss of mind experienced by the main character, adding an element of psychological depth to the story.
Line by Line Meaning
On the 14th of October
A specific date when the events of the crime occurred.
Very early in the morning,
The time frame when the crime was discovered.
The results of a crime were found
Something suspicious was noticed.
In the stables of "le père Choupon".
The location where the suspicious activity was observed.
The old man had discovered
An elderly man observed something.
To his absolute dismay,
He was shocked by what he saw.
The dislocated body
A body in a state of disrepair.
Of Elizabeth Dumoutier
The identity of the deceased.
So,
As a result of these circumstances.
The police was called in;
Law enforcement officials were notified of the situation.
I was handed an inquiry.
The singer was given a task.
Upon arriving on the scene
The artist investigated the setting of the crime.
Some photographs were shot.
Pictures were taken as evidence.
A couple of small time journalists
Two lower-tier reporters.
Were rising their fists among the crowd
They were agitated and becoming physically expressive in the public.
"C'est l'jeune Austin l'coupable!
They were accusing someone named Austin of being the culprit.
C'est lui qu'a fait l'coup, j'vous dis moi!..."
They claimed that he was guilty of the crime.
"Viens voir là toi...
They were trying to get someone's attention.
Et comment c'est que vous savez ça vous deux?"
They were asked how they knew the details of the crime.
"He! Normal!...
They responded that it was obvious from observations of the night before.
Tout le monde les a vu quitter le bal ensemble heir soir!"
People saw them leaving the party together on the previous night.
Walking... Walking...
Moving forward.
On the tightrope of insanity.
A metaphorical analogy for being on the edge of mental instability.
On the verge of losing mind.
Very close to having a mental breakdown.
A man was found on a nearby road,
A person was discovered.
Wandering without a goal.
The individual was aimlessly walking around.
In a complete state of amnesia
The person had an unusual level of memory loss.
And his hair filled with straw.
Indicating the person underwent some kind of physical transformation.
Though the whole thing seemed unreal,
The situation appeared too strange to be factual.
It soon became quite clear
The situation started to make more sense.
That Austin, the author of this crime,
The real culprit's identity was discovered.
Needed swift assistance.
The individual required immediate attention.
"Allez, allez là... Mr. Le Commissaire!
Someone was instructing a commissioner to take action.
Maintenant il va nous faire le coup du type
Expecting the victim to pretend they don't remember.
Qui se rappelle de rein!"
To act like they can't remember anything.
"Toi, je t'interdis du publier tes salades
Someone is threatening to prevent a journalist from publishing false information.
Dans ton canard de merde jusqu'à ce que
It won't be released in their crappy publication.
Le proces soit terminé!"
Until after the trial has ended.
"Non coupable!
The verdict of the trial.
Pour cause d'aliénation mentale..."
Due to a diagnosis of mental instability.
Writer(s): Luc Papineau
Contributed by Joshua H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@timmit3579
I'm just a visitor from Grand Rapids, MI. USA; But I like listening to Canadian music; And I like Your music...!!!
@romarovinciguerra5387
I only wish these guys were played more on the radio, definitely an under rated Canadian Classic!
@marieburley7769
So true 😒
@jonathancote9372
i remember this still playing on the radio in the early 90's in quebec they were pretty popular
@kingofallwhites
They played them a lot in Montreal and around the PQ in the 80’s.
@MsDom420
CHOM in Montreal still plays it regularly.
@blackbeltjones2903
97.3FM in toronto plays The Box a lot too. I'm really grateful for the exposure our stations still (have to, really, by CRTC law) give to Canadian content.
@mattp4079
Martin Streek, CFNY, Rest in Eternal Peace Sir. It was you who exposed me to great music like this.
@newfieworldorder1601
Listen my friends ... the most under played ... under estimated ... under rated song ever ... I speak only high school taught French but this band makes me love the language
@davidchisholm7190
My daughter is married and lives in France. Her husband loves this group and wants more exposure of their music.