Quand on est voltigeur
Lyrics
Quand on est voltigeur
music Mike Ford, words Mike Ford & Gilbert Bélisle
Quand on est voltigeur
Un homme prêt à tout
Quand on est voltigeur
On devient fou
On t’échange tes rêves
On t’vole l’cœur
On te fait à croire
Que t’es beau, t’es galant
« Sale garnement! »
Quand on est voltigeur
Quand on est voltigeur
« Tu vois la frontière, y’a un patelin
Quand on est voltigeur
Va semer le chagrin »
Tu défiles le jour
Tu t’faufiles la nuit
Tu t’éloignes du fleuve
Tu t’éloignes de la vie
Maudit faiseur de veuves
Quand on est voltigeur
Quand on est voltigeur
Pendant la bataille on crie des noms
Quand on est voltigeur
Au-dessus les canons
On s’souvient de son nom
De sa ville le nom
De son frère le nom
De sa mère le nom
De ma belle le « Non! »
Quand on est voltigeur
Quand on est voltigeur
Des copains avec toi à la vie à la mort
Quand on est voltigeur
Mais après les combats
Sur ta béquille accoté
Vieux chapeau tout troué
À quêter ton souper
T’es si vite oublié
C’est de toi qu’on a peur
Quand on est voltigeur
Notes
The most famous fighting group in Quebec, or Lower Canada, during the War of 1812/13/14, were those assembled under Lieutenant Colonel Charles de Salaberry (and later under Major Frederick Heriot) les Voltigeurs Canadiens. Among other engagements, they were central to Canada’s defence at The Battles of Crysler’s Farm and Chateaugauy.
My song doesn’t go into their history, but instead imagines the thoughts of a young Voltigeur at war’s end. The narrator here is someone who was enticed by the promises of glory that most soldiers were given (see/listen to the song “Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles”) and the tales of daring adventure they heard (see/listen to “The Chesapeake & The Shannon”). Unfortunately, for this soldier, the experience has turned out quite different – he feels betrayed by those who made the promises, ashamed of his role, estranged from his home and family, and in his crippled post-war state, shunned by the world. Of course there would have been veteran Voltigeurs who felt proud of their exploits, were regaled by society, and had productive and enviable lives after 1814. This song’s narrator, for any number of imaginable reasons, is not among them.
I believe that songs cannot truly be translated – to do so accurately requires writing a whole new song in the new language. If one does not speak French, perhaps the best way to get the meaning of a song in French is to use a dictionary and explore as many of the lyrics as possible. Feeding the lyrics into a translation app will give a completely ridiculous result, and simply ‘looking up’ the lyrics word-for-word doesn’t reveal much more. To understand what a song might be saying, I prefer exploring the song’s key words, and then listening to the song repeatedly.
That said, I’ve attempted to write an quick English version of the song below, for anyone who is looking to understand the lyrics but may not have the time for the method described above. The word Voltigeur, in this context, translates as ‘light infantryman’. For the English version, I’ve just left it as ‘Voltigeur’.
When you’re a Voltigeur
You can stand any pain
When you’re a Voltigeur
You can go insane
They steal your dreams
They steal your heart
They make you believe
You’re handsome and smart
But you’re just a useless brat from the start
When you’re a Voltigeur
When you’re a Voltigeur
They show you the frontier
When you’re a Voltigeur
That’s were you’ll spread tears
You march through the day
And stumble through the night
Leave behind the Big River
Leave behind your life’s light
You’re a widow-maker in flight
When you’re a Voltigeur
When you’re a Voltigeur
During battle, the names cry out
When you’re a Voltigeur
Above the cannons you hear yourself shout
The sound of your own name
Of your town – the name
Of your brother – the name
Of your mother – the name
And of your girl – the shame
When you’re a Voltigeur
When you’re a Voltigeur
Your pals are with you through thick and thin
When you’re a Voltigeur
But when peacetime begins
Broken crutch by your leg
Old hat on the street
For your dinner to beg
You’re forgotten and beat
Children see you and retreat
When you’re a Voltigeur
Discussion Questions
1.The character in this song feels betrayed by the images of war he is given before enlisting. Do soldiers today have a clearer picture of what to expect?
2.What is the Fleuve or ‘big river’ that is referred to in this song?
3.Why does the song, in verse three, end so many lines with the same word? Is it meant to conjure up a particular sound of battle?
4.The song’s character finds himself broken and forgotten after the war. Does this happen in today’s world, or are veterans given adequate care and respect?
Related Activities
1.The song ends on a seemingly hopeless note – but is does the story have to end there? Compose a letter as if you are someone in the town who has befriended the veteran Voltigeur, showing what his experiences are after the song’s sad ending. Do things change? How?
2.Music: The song is recorded in a slow ballad form, in the key of XX – quite suitable for instrumental improvising. Using a woodwind, brass, or stringed instrument, find notes and musical phrases that work along with the recording and play them over top.
3.Music: Using the recording, create a counter-melody of just a few words, just a few long-held notes, that can be sung over top – perhaps they are the voices of his family at home, or of his comrades, or the wind.