Angola
Bernard Lavilliers Lyrics

Je connais qu’un seul endroit
The singer knows of only one place.

Mais c’est pas fréquentable
However, it is not a desirable or safe place to be.

Où l’on joue ce blues là
Where they play this type of blues music.

Aussi noir que le sable.
That is as dark as the surrounding sand.

Je connais qu’une seule voix
The artist is familiar with only one voice.

Qu’en est vraiment capable
The voice is truly capable of something significant.

C’est profond, plus fort que toi
This voice is profound and more powerful than the singer.

Il n’est pas responsable.
The voice is not responsible for the situation they are in.

C’est le blues d’Angola
The type of music being played in the first stanza is the blues from Angola.

mineur et solitaire
It is a minor and lonely sound.

qui nous vient de Luanda
Originating from Luanda.

c’est un chant de poussière.
It is a song of dust, in reference to the harsh living conditions.

Fallait partir, laisser là
The singer advises that they should have left and abandoned their dreams.

tes rêves et cette guerre
Their dreams are tied to the war that rages on in the area.

et l’or noir que tu n’as pas
They don't have the financial resources, indicated by the reference to 'black gold,' to support their endeavors.

pour tous ces mercenaires.
They lament the fact that mercenaries benefit from the wealth of their land.

Qui ont du sang sur les mains
The artist accuses the mercenaries of having blood in their hands.

Jusqu’au bout de l’Enfer
The situation is in a state of hellishness.

Cours plus vite, ne dis rien
The singer suggests that they run faster and stay silent.

Sous cette pluie de fer.
They are enduring a barrage of harmful attacks.

Tu n’en parle jamais, toi
The artist addresses someone else and suggests that they never discuss what happened before.

Toi mon ami, mon frère
This person is close to the artist on both a friendly and familial level.

Qui as tu perdu là-bas
The singer is curious about who the other person may have lost in Angola.

Couché dans la poussière?
Did they lose someone in the violence, someone who is now lying amidst the dust?

J’veux du sang pour 20 caras
The singer is expressing their desire for blood money.

Des diamants, des rivières...
They want to acquire diamonds and rivers of financial profit.

Pétroliers du Panama
The singer detests the shady business dealings of the Panamanian oil companies.

Vos dollars m’exaspèrent.
The artist is frustrated by the lure of money and financial gain.