Pigalle La Blanche
Bernard Lavilliers Lyrics

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White tous vos néons rouillés
White la loi, la vie, les condés
White les nuits pour oublier
Phares de la police dans mes yeux métis mouillés
Black mes cheveux et ma peau
Black c'est écrit là sur mon dos
Black comme de la musique soul
Black is black and really beautiful

And tell me
Why, why, why, why, I don't know
Why, why, why, why, I'm born in the ghetto
Why, why, why, why, I don't know
Deux noires pour une blanche, c'est inscrit dans le tempo

White la couleur de l'accroc
White la lame, noire le couteau
White la voix qui dit encore
Sur Pigalle la blanche fait rouler ses gouttes d'or
Black la mémoire des bistrots
Black les blousons des travelos
Black la mort dans son linceul
Comme un coup de flingue, une baffe dans la gueule

And tell me
Why, why, why, why, I don't know
Why, why, why, why, I'm born in the ghetto
Why, why, why, why, I don't know
Deux noires pour une blanche, c'est inscrit dans le tempo

White la peur qui vous rassure
White le boulevard sous la bavure
White la morale et le nombre
Pigalle devient blanche quand les bronzés sont à l'ombre
Back vers la lumière dorée
Back vers l'épaisseur de forêts

Back très loin de Babylone
Je veux repartir vers les tambours qui bastonnent

Overall Meaning

The song "Pigalle La Blanche" by Bernard Lavilliers addresses themes of racial inequality, poverty, violence, and the search for identity. The lyrics are a commentary on the infamous Pigalle district in Paris, known for its red-light district and its working-class and immigrant population. Lavilliers sings about the stark contrast between the bright white neon lights of the district and the grim reality of life there for those who are marginalized or oppressed.

The first verse describes the singer's mixed-race identity and how they are perceived by society. The phrase "Phares de la police dans mes yeux métis mouillés" ("Police headlights in my wet mixed-race eyes") highlights the singer's vulnerability to discrimination and police brutality due to their racial identity. The second verse mentions the violence and death that are part of daily life in Pigalle, represented by the "accroc" (cut) and "couteau" (knife) in the white and black colors. The refrain "Why, why, why, why, I don't know / Why, why, why, why, I'm born in the ghetto / Why, why, why, why, I don't know / Deux noires pour une blanche, c'est inscrit dans le tempo" ("Two blacks for one white, it's written in the tempo") expresses the singer's frustration and confusion about the systemic racism and poverty they have experienced and witnessed.

The third verse contrasts the white facade of morality and order with the reality of the district, where people live in fear and oppression. The line "Pigalle devient blanche quand les bronzés sont à l'ombre" ("Pigalle becomes white when the bronzed ones are in the shade") alludes to the racial and social hierarchy that privileges whiteness over other identities. The final stanza expresses the singer's desire to escape from this oppressive reality and return to their cultural roots, symbolized by the "tambours qui bastonnent" ("drums that beat").

Line by Line Meaning

White tous vos néons rouillés
All your rusty neon lights are white

White la loi, la vie, les condés
The law, life, and cops are all white

White les nuits pour oublier
The nights are white to forget

Phares de la police dans mes yeux métis mouillés
Police headlights in my wet mixed-race eyes

Black mes cheveux et ma peau
My hair and skin are black

Black c'est écrit là sur mon dos
It's written on my back, I am black

Black comme de la musique soul
Black like soul music

Black is black and really beautiful
Black is beautiful

And tell me Why, why, why, why, I don't know Why, why, why, why, I'm born in the ghetto Why, why, why, why, I don't know Deux noires pour une blanche, c'est inscrit dans le tempo
And tell me why I was born in the ghetto, I don't know. It's part of the rhythm, two black for a white.

White la couleur de l'accroc
The color of the snag is white

White la lame, noire le couteau
The blade is white, the knife is black

White la voix qui dit encore
The voice still says white

Sur Pigalle la blanche fait rouler ses gouttes d'or
On Pigalle, the white one rolls her drops of gold

Black la mémoire des bistrots
The memory of the bars is black

Black les blousons des travelos
The jackets of the transvestites are black

Black la mort dans son linceul
Death in its shroud is black

Comme un coup de flingue, une baffe dans la gueule
Like a gunshot, a slap in the face

White la peur qui vous rassure
The fear that reassures you is white

White le boulevard sous la bavure
The boulevard under the smear is white

White la morale et le nombre
Morality and numbers are white

Pigalle devient blanche quand les bronzés sont à l'ombre
Pigalle becomes white when the tanned are in the shade