Emblematic French singer from the 80's, Daniel Balavoine (1952-1986) partic… Read Full Bio ↴Emblematic French singer from the 80's, Daniel Balavoine (1952-1986) participated in the first Starmania rock-show (later played in the USA as 'Tycoon') and wrote many popular songs that shook French youth during his time, such as Le Chanteur, L'Aziza, Sauver l'amour ...

Very engaged in the civil society, he sang and personified the lust for life, the hopes and the doubts of his generation, often clashing with politicians, elites, and older generations. He is especially famous for a tense debate about the struggles, hopes and doubts of French youth with the then first secretary of the French Socialist party, François Mitterrand, who was later twice elected president of France. Later he also had problems in a misunderstood verbal clash about French veterans.

Daniel Balavoine loved Africa and this transpires in many of his songs. He dedicated himself to humanitarian projects and took part in the Paris-Dakar rallye two times. The third time he took part only for humanitarian reasons. On the 14th january 1986, around 8pm, his helicopter crashed between Mali and Burkina-Faso, killing all five passengers, putting an end to his career, and leaving behind his pregnant wife Corine and his son Jeremy.

Révoluciòn
Daniel Balavoine Lyrics

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Quand les canons résonnent
Comme pour annoncer le mauvais temps
Les femmes frissonnent
Et sous leurs jupons cachent les enfants
Elles prient la madone
Blessent leurs genoux en suppliant
Mais qu'est-ce qu'elle leur donne
En échange de leur dévouement

Revolucion
Crache la douleur des mots
Si les cris viennent de la peau
Revolucion
Sous les éclairs des couteaux
Glissent les lames le long du dos
Revolucion
Mère du dernier sursaut
Met du sang dans les sanglots

Comme on porte une couronne
Elles ont la peur sur leurs visages ruisselants
Espérant la maldonne
Elles frappent leurs poitrines en défilant
Pieusement questionnent
Est-ce que disparus veut dire vivants

Faut-il qu'elles pardonnent
Pour croire que leurs morts ne sont qu'absents

Revolucion
Crache la douleur des mots
Si les cris viennent de la peau
Revolucion
Sous les éclairs des couteaux
Glissent les lames le long du dos
Revolucion
Mère du dernier sursaut
Met du sang dans les sanglots

Et quand les canons résonnent
Les femmes aux regards bouleversants
Défilent inlassablement
Chaque jeudi que Dieu donne
Soutenues par la Madone
Loin des yeux de l'Occident
Près des canons qui résonnent

Les femmes aux regards bouleversants
Défilent inlassablement...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Revolucion" by Daniel Balavoine describe the fear and desperation that women feel in the midst of a revolution. When the cannons sound, announcing the coming of bad times, the women shiver and hide their children under their skirts. They pray to the Madonna and beg for her help, but wonder what she gives them in return for their devotion. The song questions the value of their sacrifice and devotion, as they suffer at the hands of a violent revolution.

The chorus, "Revolucion, crache la douleur des mots" (Revolution, spits the pain of words), refers to the power of language to express the pain that comes with revolution. The women hope that their protests, cries, and desperate acts will help to bring about change. They are willing to suffer, and even die, to achieve a better future for their children.

Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the effects of violent social change on women, and the role that they play in making that change happen.

Line by Line Meaning

Quand les canons résonnent
When the cannons resonate

Comme pour annoncer le mauvais temps
As if to announce bad weather

Les femmes frissonnent
Women shiver

Et sous leurs jupons cachent les enfants
And hide their children under their skirts

Elles prient la madone
They pray to the Madonna

Blessent leurs genoux en suppliant
In supplication, they hurt their knees

Mais qu'est-ce qu'elle leur donne
But what does she give them

En échange de leur dévouement
In exchange for their devotion

Revolucion
Revolution

Crache la douleur des mots
Spits out the pain of words

Si les cris viennent de la peau
If the screams come from the skin