Formed in 2006 over pints of cheap beer at East Vancouver’s notoriously violent Ivanhoe Hotel, The Dreadnoughts cut their teeth in the roughest dive bars in the city. They started by opening for (and earning the praise of) celtic-punk grandfathers The Real McKenzies, and since then have never looked back. Hauling a fiddle, an accordion, a mandolin, a tin whistle, guitars and drums into every venue that would have them, they quickly became known for their powerful, chaotic live performances. In three short years they have slowly but surely joined the ranks of Canada’s punk rock heroes.
Poutine
The Dreadnoughts Lyrics
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A pair of green eyes, 5 ft 10
It was to be, my final dance
I rambled over La belle province
Montreal, Rimouski,
Repentigny, Chicoutimi
The light inside me is getting dim
God can't help the state I'm in
I met a man, his name was Joe
He said there's one place, you got to go
Along the mighty Saguenay
We ended up at Chez Bebe
Chez Bebe, j'ai ressaisi
La Picardie, je l'ai compris
The light inside me is getting dim
God can't help the state I'm in
Poutine poutine, poutine poutine
J'ai tellement faim, poutine poutine,
Poutine poutine, poutine poutine,
C'est ça ou rien, poutine poutine.
Good morning sky, good morning sun
My prohibition has just begun
I'll pack it in, I'll take the vow
If I have friends, I need them now
But when the sun falls in the west
I'm in the arms of a perfect mess
My only weakness, my only sin
God can't help the state I'm in
Poutine poutine, poutine poutine
J'ai tellement faim, poutine poutine,
Poutine poutine, poutine poutine,
C'est ça ou rien, poutine poutine.
The lyrics of "Poutine" by The Dreadnoughts describe a journey through Quebec, Canada, by an American rover whose life is falling apart. The rover describes himself as having "a pair of green eyes" and being "5 ft 10". He has come to Quebec for his "final dance" and is wandering through cities such as Montreal, Rimouski, Repentigny, and Chicoutimi. The rover's internal state is clear: "The light inside me is getting dim/God can't help the state I'm in".
Throughout the journey, the rover meets a man named Joe, who takes him to a restaurant called Chez Bebe along the Saguenay River. Here the rover has an epiphany, describing his realization of "La Picardie". While the details of what this means are not clear, the experience of eating poutine appears to have had a powerful impact on the rover. He repeats the chorus multiple times, "Poutine poutine, poutine poutine/J'ai tellement faim, poutine poutine/C'est ça ou rien, poutine poutine", highlighting the importance of the dish to him.
The final verse alludes to the rover's struggles with addiction, describing his "prohibition" beginning and his need for friends to support him through his journey. However, the rover is still drawn to the "perfect mess" of his addictive tendencies, acknowledging that his weakness and sin are part of him.
Overall, the lyrics of "Poutine" capture a sense of internal struggle and external journey, with Quebec's famous dish serving as a pivotal moment of understanding and pleasure for the rover.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a rover, American
I am a wanderer who is from America
A pair of green eyes, 5 ft 10
I have green eyes and I am 5'10'' in height
It was to be, my final dance
I had decided that this would be my last adventure
I rambled over La belle province
I traveled across the beautiful province of Quebec
Montreal, Rimouski, Repentigny, Chicoutimi
I visited several cities in Quebec, including Montreal, Rimouski, Repentigny, and Chicoutimi
The light inside me is getting dim
My spirit is fading
God can't help the state I'm in
My condition cannot be fixed by divine intervention
I met a man, his name was Joe
I encountered a man named Joe
He said there's one place, you got to go
Joe suggested a specific location that I must visit
Along the mighty Saguenay
We traveled alongside the powerful Saguenay River
We ended up at Chez Bebe
We arrived at a restaurant called Chez Bebe
Chez Bebe, j'ai ressaisi
At Chez Bebe, I regained my composure
La Picardie, je l'ai compris
I understood the regional cuisine of Picardie
Poutine poutine, poutine poutine
Poutine, poutine, I crave it
J'ai tellement faim, poutine poutine,
I'm so hungry, poutine, poutine,
C'est ça ou rien, poutine poutine.
It's either that or nothing, poutine, poutine.
Good morning sky, good morning sun
A new day has begun
My prohibition has just begun
I have just started abstaining from something
I'll pack it in, I'll take the vow
I'll give it up, I'll make a promise
If I have friends, I need them now
I require the support of friends during this tough time
But when the sun falls in the west
But as the day ends
I'm in the arms of a perfect mess
I'm with someone who embodies beautiful chaos
My only weakness, my only sin
My downfall and wrongdoing is my affinity for something
God can't help the state I'm in
My current plight is beyond divine assistance
Contributed by Ava S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.