Sertão
Bernard Lavilliers Lyrics

Caruarú Hotel Centenario, suite princière
The luxurious suite in Caruarú Hotel Centenario has an unfortunate view of the bathroom, a television set, and alternating current that cuts thick cassava air with every rotation of the fan blades.

Les pales du ventilateur coupent tranche à tranche
With every rotation, the fan blades slice through the dense air.

Le dernier texaco vient de fermer ses portes
The most recent Texaco has closed its doors, and only mosquitos love the singer in the same way as their bloodthirsty kisses prevent him from sleeping.

Y a guère que les moustiques pour m'aimer de la sorte
Desperate for affection, the artist laments that mosquitos are his only companions who share his love.

Calé dans ton fauteuil tu écoutes ma voix
As the listener listens intently to the artist's voice, the artist wonders why he must be judged for his experiences by someone who sits comfortably in their chair.

Comme un vieux charognard tu attends que je crache
The singer accuses the listener of being like a vulture, waiting patiently for him to share his unpleasant experiences.

La gueule jaune des caboclos, Antonio Des Morte
The singer describes the native people of the region, Antonio Des Morte, with their yellow faces.

Capangas machos à la solde des fazendeiros
The artist describes the tough henchmen who work for the plantation owners in the region.

Pour te donner un avant-goût de vacances intelligentes
To give you a taste of thoughtful and worthwhile vacations.

Ceux qui vendent du soleil à tempérament
Those who sell the sun on credit.

Les cocotiers, les palaces, et le sable blanc
The palms, the palaces, and the white sand, which are usually associated with vacations, will never be found here.

Ne viendront jamais par ici
These things will never come here.

Remarque il paraît que voir les plus pauvres que soi, ça rassure
Apparently, seeing people who are poorer than oneself is reassuring.

Alors allez-y, ici, tout le monde peut venir, ici il n'y a rien
So come here, everyone is welcome, there is nothing here.

Un soleil ivre de rage tourne dans le ciel
The sun, angry and drunk, revolves around the sky and devours the landscape of earth and salt.

D'où viendront les cangaceiros de la libération?
Where will the liberating cangaceiros come from?

Le cavalier que je croise sur son cheval roux
The artist meets a rider on a red horse.

Son fusil en bandoulière qui tire des clous
The rider has a rifle strapped to his shoulder, which fires nails.

A traversé ce désert, la sèche et la boue
The rider has crossed this desert, whether dry or muddy.

Pour chercher quelques cruzeiros à Caruarú
The rider has come to Caruarú in search of just a few cruzeiros.

Un éternel été émiette le sertão
An eternal summer crumbles the sertão.

Le temps s'est arrêté en plein midi
Time has stopped at high noon.

Il y a déjà longtemps
It has been a long time.

En attendant que l'enfer baisse l'abat-jour
As the artist waits for nightfall.

Qu'on se penche sur ta misère du haut de la tour
As people look down on their misery from towers.

Tu n'as que de la poussière pour parler d'Amour
All the singer has is dust to speak of love.

Aveuglé par la lumière comme dans un four
Blinded by the light, as though in an oven.

Que tous les chanteurs des foires gueulent ta chanson
Let all the carnival singers sing your song.

Même si c'est le désespoir qui donne le ton
Even if it is despair that sets the tone.

Tu n'as pas peur de la mort, même tu l'attends
The singer is not afraid of death, he even expects it.

Avec ton parabellum au cœur du sertão
With his parabellum in the heart of the sertão.

Sertão, sertão, sertão
Sertão, sertão, sertão