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.
La Dansa Dau Corsari
Massilia Sound System Lyrics
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Especial thank per Fabrici, Sergi e tota la chorma dei valadas. Mortau!
Ara s'envisquen lei lumieras
Sota lo cèu, aval a l'orisont
Plan plan viéu despareisser Iera,
Devini encà lo pòrt de Tolon
Aquesta mar es tot çò que ai,
L'èr e la vela, vòli dire,
Siatz abitud, vida e pantai
Mòri per estre çò que èri,
Ma vida vau la mia finicion,
E dins lo cuòu aquel empèri,
Toteis englés e Napoleon
Fraires de la mar, fraires de la còsta
L'aiga nos pòrta a nòste destin,
La libertat es l'èr e la vela,
La libertat, l'onda e lo daufin
Maintenant s'engluent les lumières
sous le ciel, là-bas à l'horizon
je vois doucement disparaître Hyères,
je devine encore le port de Toulon.
La liberté c'est l'air sur le visage,
cette mer est tout ce que je possède;
air et voile, vous êtes habitude,
vie et rêve.
Je meurs pour être ce que j'étais
ma vie vaut ma fin,
et dans le cul cet empire,
tous les anglais et Napoléon.
Frères de la mer, frères de la côte,
l'eau nous porte vers notre destin,
la liberté c'est l'air et la voile,
la liberté, l'onde et le dauphin.
The lyrics of Massilia Sound System's song "La Dansa Dau Corsari" are a poignant tribute to the freedom and adventurous spirit of sailors and corsairs, who lived and died by the sea. The song begins with the singer observing how the lights on the horizon slowly disappear as they set sail, leaving behind the familiar town of Hyères and heading towards the port of Toulon. He then reflects on how the freedom and vastness of the sea is all that he has and how the air and sail have become his life and routine.
The lyrics then take a deeper turn as the singer declares that he is willing to die to be who he is, and his life is defined by his commitment to his beliefs and principles. The reference to "all the English and Napoleon" in the last verse is likely a nod to the historic conflicts and battles that took place between England, France and other European powers.
The chorus is a call to all brothers of the sea and the coast to unite and embrace the freedom and adventure that comes with sailing. It celebrates the unity and shared experiences of those who have ventured out into the open waters, and the thrill of feeling the wind and waves beneath their feet.
Line by Line Meaning
Maintenant s'engluent les lumières
Right now, the lights are getting tangled up
sous le ciel, là-bas à l'horizon
Underneath the sky, on the horizon over there
je vois doucement disparaître Hyères,
I see Hyères gently disappearing,
je devine encore le port de Toulon.
I can still make out the port of Toulon.
La liberté c'est l'air sur le visage,
Freedom is the air on the face,
cette mer est tout ce que je possède;
This sea is all that I own;
air et voile, vous êtes habitude,
Air and sail, you are habit,
vie et rêve.
Life and dream.
Je meurs pour être ce que j'étais
I die to be what I was
ma vie vaut ma fin,
My life is worth my end,
et dans le cul cet empire,
And in the ass this empire,
tous les anglais et Napoléon.
All the English and Napoleon.
Frères de la mer, frères de la côte,
Brothers of the sea, brothers of the coast,
l'eau nous porte vers notre destin,
The water carries us towards our fate,
la liberté c'est l'air et la voile,
Freedom is the air and the sail,
la liberté, l'onde et le dauphin.
Freedom, the waves, and the dolphin.
Contributed by Olivia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.