Joli Rouge

Originating from Ciderpunk band The Dreadnoughts of Vancouver BC, this song was written as a tribute to the Cidre Joli Rouge, a cidery in Saguenay (Quebec, Canada) operated by their friend. It was released on their 2019 album Into the North.

The Longest Johns released a music video of their version of the song in April 2020, though due to Covid-19 lockdown restrictions, only Andy and JD are featured in the recording. The video features two JDs and two Andys, plus a cameo from a whopping four versions of JD's cat Monty. Sources claim this was achieved through clever camera work and editing; rumors of a horrifying cloning incident remain unconfirmed.

Factoids

Most of the place names and products mentioned are Canadian. The exceptions are the obvious references to France, Italy, and the Caribbean island of Martinique. Martinique was one of the many Caribbean islands that supplied Canada with rum via trade (both legal and otherwise) through the French island of Saint Pierre et Miquelon, and the east coast Canadian provinces as well as Quebec.

Saguenay is the name of both a river and the city that sits upon it (across the river from Chicoutimi), in Quebec.

Half seas over originally meant literally "halfway across the sea", but later developed the slang meaning of "drunk".^[1]

Magners is a cider manufactured in British Columbia near the pacific west coast, in or around Vancouver.

Strongbow, though primarily exported from England, is also regularly bottled in a number of places worldwide. Most Strongbow in Canada is bottled in and around Toronto, Ontario.

Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the version sung by the Longest Johns in their livestreams.

From France we get the brandy, from Martinique the rum
Sweet red Cabernet from Italy does come
But the fairest of 'em all, me boys, the one to beat the day
Is made from apples up the mighty Saguenay

{Chorus}
So, follow me lads!
'Cause this ain't no grog or ale
One pint down, you'll be swingin' in the gale
Five pints, bully, you'll be shaking in your shoes
We're half seas over on the Joli Rouge

She's called the Dreadnought Cider, she's proper and she's fine
And when the day is over, sure, I wish that she were mine
Or in the dark of winter, or on a summer's eve
Oh, one hand giveth and the other doth receive

{Chorus}

So turn your sails over and bring her hard to port
Find that little star and fly straight into the north
The wild sun upon your back, the wind a-blowing free
You're rolling down the river, boys, to old Chicoutimi

{Chorus}

So you can have a Magners and pour it over ice
Or you can have a Strongbow if it's sadness that you like
Or join us up the river and we'll set your heart aglow
And how you'll feel when the real cider starts to flow

{Chorus x2}

Recordings

YouTube Videos

Music Video

Full Band Streams

Chill Streams

Gaming Streams

Joli Cheese

In April 2020, Discord user CollapsingHrungDisaster shared a set of parody lyrics re-writing the song to be about cheese. This version proved very popular with the community, resulting in its being performed twice on subsequent chill streams.

From Greece we get the feta
From France the Ro-que-fort
Fine hard Parmesan
From Italy and more
But if you're in the West Country
The fairest of them all
Is made and found and eaten
Down the mighty Cheddar gorge

{Chorus}
So, follow me lads
'Cause this 'ain't no Camembert
Once slice down, even Stilton don't compare
Five blocks bully and you're weak'ning at the knees
We're half seas over for the cheddar cheese

Well the Cheshire is a charmer
Though it's crumbly inside
And if you lack utensils
You'll be left unsatisfied
But the cheddar's firm and fulsome
And if it's right mature
With just two fingers you'll be
Screaming out for more

{Chorus}

The gouda is all good-a
If it's molten in a dish
And sailing on the fondue sea
It is your greatest wish
But if you set your satnav
To take you west by south
Then just one bite'll leave it
Melting in your mouth.

{Chorus}

So you can try halloumi
And fry until it's black
Or munch on gorgonzola
If your nose is out of wack
The Yanks' is made of plastic
And the taste'll make you cry
So give me cheddar
Every day until I die

{Chorus}

↑ "half-seas-over, adv. and adj." OED Online. Oxford University Press, December 2022. Web. 9 December 2022.

[1] "half-seas-over, adv. and adj." OED Online. Oxford University Press, December 2022. Web. 9 December 2022.

[1]