DESCRIPTION:
The 88 beat version is also on my channel - this is the Americanized version ! Check also on my channel - Marche de la Legion and La Legion marche as well as Le Boudin.

One of my favourite military pieces - but I have many

Le Boudin is the official march of the French Foreign Legion. Le Boudin is a reference to boudin, a type of blood sausage or black pudding. Le boudin colloquially meant the gear (rolled up in a red blanket) that used to top the backpacks of Legionnaires. The song makes repeated reference to the fact that the Belgians don't get any "blood sausage", since the King of Belgium at the time forbade his subjects from joining the Legion.

While the tune was composed prior to the Legion's departure for Mexico in the 1860s the words were probably adopted shortly after 1870 as many men from Alsace and Lorraine (regions recently lost to Germany) joined the Legion.

Le Boudin is sung while standing to attention by all ranks of the French Foreign Legion. The Legion marches at only 88 steps per minute, much slower than the 120 steps per minute of all other French military units. Consequently, the Legion contingent at the Bastille Day march holds up the rear. Nevertheless, the Legion gets the most enthusiastic response from the crowd.

Tiens, voilà du boudin, voilà du boudin, voilà du boudin Pour les Alsaciens, les Suisses et les Lorrains, pour les Belges y en a plus, ce sont des tireurs au cul.

1st sonnerie
Nous sommes des dégourdis,
Nous sommes des lascars
Des types pas ordinaires.
Nous avons souvent notre cafard,
Nous sommes des légionnaires.
1st couplet
Au Tonkin, la Légion immortelle
À Tuyen-Quang illustra notre drapeau,
Héros de Camerone et frères modèles
Dormez en paix dans vos tombeaux.
2nd sonnerie
Nos anciens ont su mourir.
Pour la gloire de la Légion.
Nous saurons bien tous périr
Suivant la tradition.
2nd couplet
Au cours de nos campagnes lointaines,
Affrontant la fièvre et le feu,
Oublions avec nos peines,
La mort qui nous oublie si peu.
Here you are, some blood pudding, some blood pudding, some blood pudding For the Alsatians, the Swiss, and the Lorrains, For the Belgians, there's none left, They're lazy shirkers (repeat)

1st sonnet
We're at ease,
We're rough-and-tough
No ordinary guys,
We've often got our black moods,
We are Legionnaires
1st couplet
At Tonkin, the Immortal Legion
At Tuyen-Quang we honoured our flag,
The heroes of Camerone and model brothers
Sleep in peace in your tombs
2nd sonnet
Our ancestors died
For the glory of the Legion.
We will all perish
According to the tradition.
2nd couplet
During our far-off campaigns,
Battling fever and fire,
May our pain help us forget,
Death, who never forgets us.