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Le Boudin is the official march of the French Foreign Legion. Le Boudin is a reference to boudin, a type of blood sausage. 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 in attention by all ranks of the French Foreign Leggion. The French Foreign Legion marches 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.

Lyrics

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 Alsacians, 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 heros 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.

French	English

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 {{Expand|date=January 2007}}
 '''Le Boudin''' is the official [[march (music)|march]] of the [[French Foreign Legion]]. Le Boudin is a reference to [[boudin]], a type of [[blood sausage]]. 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 [[Belgium|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 in attention by all ranks of the French Foreign Leggion. The French Foreign Legion marches 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.