They are influenced by french writers like Georges Brassens, Pierre Perret, Renaud, the 80's french alternative scene like Mano Negra, and the music of Eastern Europe.
Jésus
Les Ogres de Barback Lyrics
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Près du camping au fond d’un champ
Il se dit « j’suis sain et sauf et si j’ai froid, c’est qu’j’suis vivant »
Il s’appelle Jésus, bon Dieu
Un nom comme ça, ça s’invente pas
Il s’appelle Jésus, grand Dieu
Au grand vouloir de son papa
Il ne se passe rien
Et Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Il habite à la Patte d’Oie
Patte d’oie d’Herblay exactement
C’est pas loin d’la capitale
C’est jamais loin quand on a mal
Il a des grands yeux tout bleus
Des jurons sur sa langue de bois
C’est un manouche de banlieue
Un voyageur qui voyage pas
Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Quand Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Il vit de bric et de broc
Il choure des briques
Il me les trocs
Il fait des grands feux de bois
Et boit de l’eau de feu sans joie
Le cuivre fond il s’en va
Trois petits tours et puis sont là
Au carrefour les hirondelles pour cueillir le scélérat
Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Jésus est pris
Il ne se passe rien
Un p’tit séjour à l’ombre
Ca fait pas mieux
Ca fait pas pire
Quand on vit dans un carré
On a vite fait d’s’y habituer
Quand l’avenir est tout tracé
Une vie de merde et puis c’est tout
Vaut mieux s’y préparer
On commence à creuser son trou
Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Il m’arrive assez souvent
De faire un tour chez ce frangin
Chez cet homme qui compte ses morts
Pour pas oublier qu’il existe
Et qui a pas grand chose à faire
Quand on se sent ni mal ni bien
Qu’on a sa mob’ qui crame par terre
Et pas un rond et qu’c’est la fin
Et puis qu’on prie
Et qu’il se passe rien
Qu’on a compris
Qu’il ne se passera rien
Quand Jésus prie
Il ne se passe rien
Rien…
The song "Jésus" by Les Ogres de Barback tells the story of a man named Jésus who is living in difficult circumstances but maintains his faith despite the lack of positive outcomes. The first verse introduces Jésus, who finds solace in the simple fact that he is alive and safe, even though he sometimes feels cold. The use of the name Jésus, which cannot be invented, adds a religious connotation to the character. It suggests that he possesses a certain divinity or special connection with a higher power.
The chorus repeats the phrase "When Jésus prays, nothing happens" to emphasize that his prayers seemingly go unanswered. There is a sense of frustration and disappointment in his lack of visible results or signs from the divine. This repetition reinforces the idea that Jésus continues to pray despite the apparent silence because he steadfastly embraces his faith.
The second verse describes Jésus's living situation in a specific area called Patte d'Oie, near Herblay, which is not far from the capital (presumably Paris). The mention of his "blue eyes" and "swearing on his wooden tongue" signify a certain roughness or unconventional nature. Jésus is presented as a modern-day traveler, a banlieue (suburban) gypsy who does not conform to societal norms and expectations. His existence has become stagnant, as he is constantly in pain and searching for solace.
The following verse illustrates how Jésus survives by collecting random objects and trading them. He steals bricks and exchanges them, living a nomadic lifestyle by creating bonfires and consuming hard liquor. This imagery highlights his struggle to find joy and meaning in his life. The mention of the copper melting and the arrival of swallows at a crossroad suggests that Jésus's actions may have unintended consequences, reinforcing the idea that his existence is fraught with hardship and misfortune.
The final verse acknowledges that living behind bars, whether physically or metaphorically, does not necessarily improve or worsen one's situation. Jésus has become accustomed to living within the limited boundaries of his life, accepting the bleak future that awaits him. The phrase "We start digging our own grave" suggests that Jésus is resigned to his predetermined fate, suggesting a sense of fatalism.
The last lines describe the singer's frequent visits to Jésus, who counts his dead, a metaphor for his recognition of the harsh realities of life. Jésus has very little to do and is caught in a cycle of feeling neither good nor bad. He experiences financial difficulties, his motorcycle breaks down, and the situation seems hopeless. The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces the overall theme that Jésus's prayers do not yield tangible results, but he continues to pray regardless, hoping for a change that may never come.
Line by Line Meaning
Y’a un homme qui s’réchauffe
There is a man warming himself
Près du camping au fond d’un champ
Near the campsite at the bottom of a field
Il se dit « j’suis sain et sauf et si j’ai froid, c’est qu’j’suis vivant »
He says to himself, 'I am safe and sound, and if I'm cold, it means I'm alive'
Il s’appelle Jésus, bon Dieu
He is called Jesus, good God
Un nom comme ça, ça s’invente pas
A name like that, you can't make it up
Il s’appelle Jésus, grand Dieu
He is called Jesus, great God
Au grand vouloir de son papa
By the great will of his father
Quand Jésus prie
When Jesus prays
Il ne se passe rien
Nothing happens
Et Jésus prie
And Jesus prays
Il ne se passe rien
Nothing happens
Il habite à la Patte d’Oie
He lives in Patte d'Oie
Patte d’oie d’Herblay exactement
More precisely, Patte d'Oie d'Herblay
C’est pas loin d’la capitale
It's not far from the capital
C’est jamais loin quand on a mal
It's never far when you're in pain
Il a des grands yeux tout bleus
He has big blue eyes
Des jurons sur sa langue de bois
Swear words on his wooden tongue
C’est un manouche de banlieue
He's a gypsy from the suburbs
Un voyageur qui voyage pas
A traveler who doesn't travel
Il vit de bric et de broc
He lives from odds and ends
Il choure des briques
He steals bricks
Il me les trocs
He trades them with me
Il fait des grands feux de bois
He makes big bonfires
Et boit de l’eau de feu sans joie
And drinks joyless firewater
Le cuivre fond il s’en va
The brass melts, he leaves
Trois petits tours et puis sont là
Three little rounds and then they're here
Au carrefour les hirondelles pour cueillir le scélérat
At the crossroads, the swallows gather to catch the villain
Jésus est pris
Jesus is caught
Il ne se passe rien
Nothing happens
Un p’tit séjour à l’ombre
A little stay in the shade
Ca fait pas mieux
It doesn't get better
Ca fait pas pire
It doesn't get worse
Quand on vit dans un carré
When one lives in a square
On a vite fait d’s’y habituer
You quickly get used to it
Quand l’avenir est tout tracé
When the future is all mapped out
Une vie de merde et puis c’est tout
A shitty life and that's all
Vaut mieux s’y préparer
It's better to prepare for it
On commence à creuser son trou
You start digging your own grave
Il m’arrive assez souvent
It happens to me quite often
De faire un tour chez ce frangin
To go see this brother
Chez cet homme qui compte ses morts
In the house of this man who counts his dead
Pour pas oublier qu’il existe
So as not to forget that he exists
Et qui a pas grand chose à faire
And who doesn't have much to do
Quand on se sent ni mal ni bien
When one feels neither good nor bad
Qu’on a sa mob’ qui crame par terre
When your scooter is burning on the ground
Et pas un rond et qu’c’est la fin
And not a penny and it's the end
Et puis qu’on prie
And then we pray
Et qu’il se passe rien
And nothing happens
Qu’on a compris
That we understand
Qu’il ne se passera rien
That nothing will happen
Rien…
Nothing...
Lyrics © BARBACK EDITIONS
Written by: Alice BURGUIERE, Frederic BURGUIERE, Mathilde BURGUIERE, Samuel BURGUIERE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind