Heavily influenced by American rock & roll, Mitchell (who went solo in 1963) has often recorded outside France, at first in London, but later in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Bob Graham were among the British session musicians who regularly supported him in London.
Ma Nouvelle-Orléans
Eddy Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cruel, inhumain
Portant pourtant
Un joli prénom féminin
L'ouragan Katrina
Noie mon Jambalaya
Le bayou
Sera toujours blue
Ma Nouvelle-Orléans
Berceau du blues enfant
Dieu semble t'avoir blessée
Oubliée et dédaignée
Je parle du Dieu argent
Du dollar frémissant
Des promesses du Texan
Menteur mais pourtant président
Le quartier français
N'est plus ce qu'il était
Les plantations
En Louisiane sentent moins bon
Mais le créole n'oublie pas
De fêter le mardi gras
Cajun
Ça sera mieux demain
Ma Nouvelle-Orléans
Des vautours viennent souvent
Touristes, voyeurs en manque
Des sensations déplacées
Ils viennent te voir pleurer
Regretter le passé
Ils payent à la demande
La belle histoire du Dixieland
Ma Nouvelle-Orléans
Berceau du blues enfant
Dieu semble t'avoir blessée
Oubliée et dédaignée
Je parle du Dieu argent
Du dollar trébuchant
Des promesses du Texan
Menteur mais pourtant président
The lyrics to Eddy Mitchell's song "Ma Nouvelle-Orléans" delve into the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina on the city of New Orleans. Mitchell uses powerful adjectives to describe the impact of the hurricane, such as "violent," "cruel," and "inhumane." Despite this devastation, Mitchell notes that the hurricane is given a "joli prénom féminin," or a pretty feminine name. This juxtaposition highlights the contradiction between the beauty of the city and the destruction it has faced.
The lyrics continue to explore the politics surrounding Hurricane Katrina. Mitchell references the "Dieu argent," or the god of money, and the "Texan" president who made false promises. He notes that the French Quarter and Louisiana plantations are not what they used to be, but the city's culture and traditions live on through events like Mardi Gras and Cajun music.
Mitchell also comments on the exploitation of New Orleans by tourists who flock to the city to witness its devastation. He refers to them as "vultures," and notes that they come to the city to "see you cry / regret the past." Mitchell highlights the discomfort of such tourism, and condemns those who partake in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Violent, angoissant
The hurricane Katrina was a terrifying and distressing experience.
Cruel, inhumain
The effects of the hurricane Katrina were very harsh and inhuman.
Portant pourtant
Despite this, it had a beautiful and feminine name, Katrina.
Un joli prénom féminin
Despite this, it had a beautiful and feminine name, Katrina.
L'ouragan Katrina
The hurricane Katrina caused my Jambalaya to be submerged and ruined.
Noie mon Jambalaya
The hurricane Katrina caused my Jambalaya to be submerged and ruined.
Le bayou
The bayou, a swampy area in New Orleans, always seems melancholic.
Sera toujours blue
The bayou, a swampy area in New Orleans, always seems melancholic.
Ma Nouvelle-Orléans
My New Orleans, the birthplace of the blues, has suffered greatly.
Berceau du blues enfant
My New Orleans, the birthplace of the blues, has suffered greatly.
Dieu semble t'avoir blessée
It seems as if God has wounded New Orleans.
Oubliée et dédaignée
It has been forgotten and ignored.
Je parle du Dieu argent
I am speaking of the God of money.
Du dollar frémissant
The trembling dollar that brings promises.
Des promesses du Texan
The promises of the Texan liar, who is still the president.
Menteur mais pourtant président
The promises of the Texan liar, who is still the president.
Le quartier français
The French Quarter, the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans.
N'est plus ce qu'il était
It is not what it used to be.
Les plantations
The plantations in Louisiana no longer smell as sweet as they used to.
En Louisiane sentent moins bon
The plantations in Louisiana no longer smell as sweet as they used to.
Mais le créole n'oublie pas
But the Creole people never forget to celebrate Mardi Gras.
De fêter le mardi gras
But the Creole people never forget to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Cajun
A style of music and cuisine that originated in Louisiana.
Ça sera mieux demain
Things will be better tomorrow.
Des vautours viennent souvent
Vultures (tourists) often come to New Orleans.
Touristes, voyeurs en manque
Tourists and voyeurs who crave sensory experiences.
Des sensations déplacées
They seek inappropriate sensations.
Ils viennent te voir pleurer
They come to see you cry.
Regretter le passé
They come to regret the past.
Ils payent à la demande
They pay for what they want.
La belle histoire du Dixieland
They pay for the beautiful story of Dixieland, but it may not be entirely true.
Du dollar trébuchant
The falling dollar, which is less valuable.
Contributed by Joseph H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.