Québécois de souche [English translation]

I’m a Quebecer through and through

Get your hands off my Bill 1011

It’s not that I don’t know how to speak

But I’m an anglicized colon…2

At the shop the boys told me:

The foreman wants you to unload the van

Before punching out at the end of your shift

I’m going to the shipping dock to look for

The guy’s packing slip

He called his helper who was sleeping at the switch

I’m a Quebecer through and through

I sing Marjo3 in the shower

It’s not that I don’t know how to speak

But I’m an anglicized colon

The garaged towed me, no more shocks no more brakes

My muffler’s fucked

A hand under the dash, I opened the hood

It’s the gasket that’s jammed

Changed the spark-plugs, the fan belt

Then the calipers

With my hot rims4 my car is new

Bumper to bumper

I’m a Quebecer through and through

I trip out big time on Fabienne Larouche5

It’s not that I don’t know how to speak

But I’m an anglicized colon

Just as soon as I’m parked in the driveway

I go out on the sundeck and started the charcoal

I’m the cook that checks6

The chops or else the steaks

Once everything’s cleaned up I’m pitched out on the lazy boy

With my darling

We watch sitcoms

Then talk shows from the States

(Then talk shows from the States)

I’m a Quebecer through and through

I have a fleur-de-lys tattooed on my mouth

It’s not that I don’t know how to speak

But I’m an anglicized colon

An anglicized colon

An englished colon

Cha cha cha!

1. law defining French as the official language of Québec2. see comments3. Marjolène Morin, Québécoise singer4. mags, from magnesium5. famous Québécoise screenwriter6. for doneness