He came out with his first album Dumas en 2001, when he was 21. His second album, Le cours des jours made him more well-known. One song on the Le cours des jours album was sung by Marie-Annick Lépine, from the group Les Cowboys Fringants. In 2004, Carl Bastien and Dumas released the soundtrack to the film Les Aimants by Yves P. Pelletier.
Rouge
Dumas Lyrics
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Les ruines descendent à terre
Reconnais les visages
Blessés par les batailles
Soleil levant
Anti-douleur
Passeport inutile
Elles sont sur nos terres
Que feront-ils de nous
Elles ont vu mes frères
Que feront-ils de nous
Que feront-ils de nous
Je reconnais la route
Les ruines de cent batailles
Reconnais le visages
Blessés par les batailles
Nous serons ensemble
Au levé du jour
À nouveau ensemble
Au levé du jour
Nous serons ensemble
Au levé du jour
À nouveau ensemble
Au levé du jour
À nouveau ensemble
Dumas's song Rouge is a powerful reflection on war and its effects on individuals and communities. The opening lines, "Je reconnais la route/Les ruines descendent à terre" (I recognize the road/The ruins descend to the ground), set a somber tone and suggest that the singer has been through this landscape before. The second line, "Reconnais les visages/Blessés par les batailles" (Recognize the faces/Injured by battles), reinforces the idea that this is a familiar and painful sight.
The second stanza shifts to a more surreal tone, with the lines "Soleil levant/Anti-douleur/Passeport inutile/Allez simple" (Rising sun/Painkiller/Useless passport/One-way trip) suggesting that the singer is not just physically but also emotionally displaced. The repeated question, "Que feront-ils de nous" (What will they do with us), highlights the uncertainty and fear that comes with war and the question of survival.
The final stanzas offer a glimmer of hope, with the repeated refrain "Nous serons ensemble/Au levé du jour" (We will be together/At daybreak) suggesting a sense of solidarity and survival. The final line "À nouveau ensemble" (Together again) offers a sense of optimism and resilience despite the scars of war.
Overall, Rouge is a powerful commentary on the impacts of war on individuals and communities, offering both a bleak portrayal of the immediate aftermath and a hopeful vision of a potential future.
Line by Line Meaning
Je reconnais la route
I recognize the path I am on
Les ruines descendent à terre
The ruins of previous battles litter the ground
Reconnais les visages
I recognize the faces of those who have been wounded in battle
Blessés par les batailles
These individuals have been harmed by the ongoing war
Soleil levant
With the rising sun
Anti-douleur
With the help of painkillers
Passeport inutile
A passport is no longer necessary
Allez simple
One-way ticket
Elles sont sur nos terres
They are on our land
Que feront-ils de nous
What will they do to us?
Elles ont vu mes frères
They have seen my brothers
Que feront-ils de nous
What will they do to us?
Que feront-ils de nous
What will they do to us?
Je reconnais la route
I recognize the path I am on
Les ruines de cent batailles
The ruins of countless battles litter the ground
Reconnais les visages
I recognize the faces of those who have been wounded in battle
Blessés par les batailles
These individuals have been harmed by the ongoing war
Nous serons ensemble
We will be together
Au levé du jour
With the rising sun
À nouveau ensemble
Together again
Au levé du jour
With the rising sun
Nous serons ensemble
We will be together
Au levé du jour
With the rising sun
À nouveau ensemble
Together again
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.