Massilia Sound System is a reggae band formed in Marseille in the 1980s. Th… Read Full Bio ↴Massilia Sound System is a reggae band formed in Marseille in the 1980s. They developed a Provençal hybrid version of reggae, rub-a-dub and raggamuffin with lyrics in the French and Occitan languages, sometimes referred to as trobamuffin (from the Occitan word trobador and the musical style raggamuffin). They incorporate many rhythms, beats and samples from the local tradition or other musical colleagues, and their lyrics indicate a profound parochialism for Marseille and the south of France in general.

Massilia Sound System re-popularised the city of Marseille in the 1990s, in conjunction with the success of Olympique de Marseille, the local football club. Along with that empowered an entire generation of young Marseillais with a positive identity, proud of their city and their capacity to embrace different cultural traditions.

De matin
Massilia Sound System Lyrics

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De bon matin
Mi levi e còp sec mi meti en camin
Dins la dralha sensa fin
I a pas gaire de monde dins lei carrieras de la ciutat
La cridadissa dei gabians
Mi fa pensar que la mar es pas tant luenh
E l′ai pas vista dempuei un molon de temps
Es per aquò, benlèu que mi senti pas ben

Lo 49 mi pren a la Bèla de Mai,
Ni mens ni mai
Es verai que la vista de l'auba es un espectacle
Que viÈu solament dos ò tres còps l′an. Fenhant, vai!
Fau dire que se cochar tard e se levar matin
Es pas de bon far per un raggamuffin
Va sas es un trabalh de far de musica

Es un crebadis per lo que n'en vòu far mestier
Si deu pas mancar perque lo mancaràn pas lei medis

Overall Meaning

These lyrics, taken from the song "De matin" by Massilia Sound System, speak to the idea of starting the day off early and embarking on a journey. The lyrics describe the singer waking up early in the morning and setting out on a path that seems endless. They mention how there aren't many people in the city streets at that time, except for the calls of the seagulls, which remind them that the sea is not far away. The singer mentions not having seen the sea for a long time, which may be why they don't feel well.

The lyrics continue to discuss the singer going to a place called "La Bèla de Mai" and how the view of the sunrise is a spectacle that can only be witnessed a few times a year. The singer reflects on the fact that staying up late and waking up early isn't the best lifestyle for a "raggamuffin" (a term often used to describe a rebellious or non-conformist person). They acknowledge that making music is hard work and a struggle, but they can't afford to miss out on opportunities because others won't miss them.

Overall, these lyrics convey a sense of independence, a connection with nature, and the dedication required to pursue one's passion despite the challenges.

Line by Line Meaning

De bon matin
In the early morning

Mi levi e còp sec mi meti en camin
I wake up and quickly get on my way

Dins la dralha sensa fin
In the endless path

I a pas gaire de monde dins lei carrieras de la ciutat
There are not many people in the city streets

La cridadissa dei gabians
The cry of the seagulls

Mi fa pensar que la mar es pas tant luenh
Makes me think that the sea is not so far away

E l′ai pas vista dempuei un molon de temps
And I haven't seen it in a long time

Es per aquò, benlèu que mi senti pas ben
That's why, maybe I don't feel well

Lo 49 mi pren a la Bèla de Mai
Line 49 takes me to Bèla de Mai

Ni mens ni mai
Neither more nor less

Es verai que la vista de l'auba es un espectacle
It is true that the sight of dawn is a spectacle