Dounia
Collectif Fleury & Nicolas Repac Lyrics
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La mère et les plus grands
Sont partis pour la France
Le p'tit dernier ressent
Très souvent leur absence.
La solitude comme oreillé
Mais où sont passés ses repères
Lui qui est seul face à son père ?
Peur de ne plus les revoir
Il pleure sur sa balançoire
De loin sa voisine nadia le surveille
Quand son père travaille pour un peu d'oseille
« Allô maman, c'est moi » au téléphone
Elle lui raconte qu'elle se bat comme une lionne
« Je nous cherche un bercail
Vitry-sur-Seine sa caille »
« Cousin Walid m'aide pour la mairie :
Il les connaît, lui, les tracasseries. »
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Sortir de la galère
ça les a rendu fier
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Treize longs mois se passent,
Tout le monde se retrouvent
Tout le monde s'enlace
Les portes d'Orly qui s'ouvrent
Allongés en famille dans un petit squat
Serrés comme dans une putain de boite
Des difficultés pour apprendre la langue
Très peu d'argent pour se payer une mangue
Ils s'accrochent à leur cartable
Trouvent leurs premiers potes à table
Des ratures dans leurs premières phrases
Mais n'oublient pas leur langue de base
Sortie des cours, potes et football
Maman dit restez loin des halls
Premières compétitions de sport
Premières sensations dans leur corps
Une console trouvée sur le trottoir
La chance leur sourit, doivent-ils y croire ?
Tante Zakia leur apporte son soutien
En attendant l'arrivée du doyen
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Sortir de la galère
ça les a rendu fier
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Des années passent, voilà leur père
un nouveau souffle, un nouvel air
De quoi manger à leur faim
Des bon plats avec du pain
Malgré le peu d'argent
Ils voient la vie en grand
Étrangers, il faut rester fort
La vie et une épreuve en or.
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Sortir de la galère
ça les a rendu fier
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
The lyrics of Dounia by Collectif Fleury & Nicolas Repac tell the story of a young boy who is left behind while his mother and older siblings go to France. The absence of his family is deeply felt, and the boy often feels lonely. His dreams of studying are juxtaposed with the reality of his isolation, as he faces his father alone and without the familiar comforts of home. The fear of never seeing his family again brings him to tears as he sits on his swing.
In the midst of his solitude, the boy's neighbor Nadia watches out for him while his father works to make ends meet. The phone becomes a lifeline for him as he calls his mother, who tells him about her struggles and determination to find a place for them in Vitry-sur-Seine. Through the help of their cousin Walid, who knows how to navigate the difficulties they face, they begin to find their way out of their misfortune.
The chorus of the song, repeated throughout, speaks to their resilience and the pride they feel as they strive to escape their hardships and come out on top. Thirteen long months pass, and eventually, they are all reunited. The reunion is emotional, with hugs and tears exchanged at Orly airport. Together, they find shelter in a small squat, cramped but close.
Learning the language and having little money to spare create challenges, but the family perseveres. They hold onto their school bags, make friends, and overcome obstacles. Although their early attempts at writing may have mistakes, they never forget their native language. However, they are also warned by their mother to stay away from dangerous places.
As time goes on, they experience their first sports competitions and the excitement of discovering their changing bodies. A stroke of luck comes their way, as they find a console on the sidewalk, bringing them joy and making them wonder if they should believe in the power of fate. Their aunt Zakia supports them until their father arrives, bringing with him a fresh perspective and renewed hope.
The final verse describes how their father's presence brings stability to their lives. They now have enough to eat, enjoying good food and bread. Despite their financial circumstances, the family sees life with optimism and a grand vision. As immigrants, they understand the importance of staying strong and believe that life is a golden opportunity.
Overall, the lyrics of Dounia tell a story of perseverance, resilience, and the power of family bonds. It explores the challenges faced by immigrants, the longing for a better life, and the determination to rise above adversity. The repeated chorus serves as a reminder of their journey and the pride they feel in their accomplishments.
Line by Line Meaning
Un garçon s'endort là, sans drap.
A boy falls asleep there, without a sheet.
La mère et les plus grands
Sont partis pour la France
Le p'tit dernier ressent
Très souvent leur absence.
The mother and the older ones
Have left for France
The little one often feels
Their absence very much.
La solitude comme oreillé
Il rêve d'étude tout éveillé
Solitude as a pillow
He dreams of studying wide awake.
Mais où sont passés ses repères
Lui qui est seul face à son père ?
But where have his reference points gone
He who is alone facing his father?
Peur de ne plus les revoir
Il pleure sur sa balançoire
Fear of not seeing them anymore
He cries on his swing.
De loin sa voisine nadia le surveille
Quand son père travaille pour un peu d'oseille
His neighbor Nadia watches over him from afar
While his father works for a little money.
« Allô maman, c'est moi » au téléphone
Elle lui raconte qu'elle se bat comme une lionne
"Hello mom, it's me" on the phone
She tells him that she fights like a lioness.
« Je nous cherche un bercail
Vitry-sur-Seine sa caille »
"I'm looking for us a home
Vitry-sur-Seine is cold."
« Cousin Walid m'aide pour la mairie :
Il les connaît, lui, les tracasseries. »
"Cousin Walid is helping me with the town hall:
He knows, for sure, the troubles."
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Sortir de la galère
ça les a rendu fier
The world, the world
Get me out of misery
Getting out of the hardship
Has made them proud
Treize longs mois se passent,
Tout le monde se retrouvent
Tout le monde s'enlace
Les portes d'Orly qui s'ouvrent
Thirteen long months go by
Everyone is reunited
Everyone embraces
The doors of Orly that open
Allongés en famille dans un petit squat
Serrés comme dans une putain de boite
Lying down as a family in a small squat
Squeezed in like in a damn box
Des difficultés pour apprendre la langue
Très peu d'argent pour se payer une mangue
Difficulties in learning the language
Very little money to buy a mango
Ils s'accrochent à leur cartable
Trouvent leurs premiers potes à table
They hold on to their school bags
Find their first friends at the table
Des ratures dans leurs premières phrases
Mais n'oublient pas leur langue de base
Mistakes in their first sentences
But they don't forget their mother tongue
Sortie des cours, potes et football
Maman dit restez loin des halls
After school, friends and soccer
Mom says stay away from the halls
Premières compétitions de sport
Premières sensations dans leur corps
First sports competitions
First sensations in their bodies
Une console trouvée sur le trottoir
La chance leur sourit, doivent-ils y croire ?
A console found on the sidewalk
Luck smiles at them, should they believe it?
Tante Zakia leur apporte son soutien
En attendant l'arrivée du doyen
Aunt Zakia gives them her support
While waiting for the arrival of the elder
Des années passent, voilà leur père
un nouveau souffle, un nouvel air
Years go by, here comes their father
A new breath, a new air
De quoi manger à leur faim
Des bon plats avec du pain
Enough to eat their fill
Good dishes with bread
Malgré le peu d'argent
Ils voient la vie en grand
Despite the little money
They see life in a grand way
Étrangers, il faut rester fort
La vie et une épreuve en or.
Strangers, we must stay strong
Life is a golden challenge.
Dounia, dounia
Reldjini me miseria
Sortir de la galère
ça les a rendu fier
The world, the world
Get me out of misery
Getting out of the hardship
Has made them proud
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Nicolas Repac, Dayssou, Mix et Métisse
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind