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.
Parla Patois !
Massilia Sound System Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
escota me plan, escota me ben, escota me ragga
ara es papet jali que ven te far bolegar
ara es moussu t. que ven per te far bolegar
mai dins la dansa, oc dins la dansa
siau anat a paris per i veire lei productors
escoteron mon liric, comprengueron ren dau tot
parla pas engles, parla pas italian
parla pas portugues, me sembla pas normau
broncha pas moussu rigaud, vau t'explicar, fagues pas paur!
siau beu, siau caud perque siau provencau
is! papet jali que te far marchar lo cor
repic n° 1:
escota me plan, escota me ben, escota me ragga
ara es papet jali que ven te far bolegar
ara es moussu t. que ven per te far bolegar
mai dins la dansa, oc dins la dansa
repic n° 2:
parla patois ragga, oc parla patois
parla patois que babilona entendra pas
parla patois, comenca e t'arresta pas
dedins marsilha: parla patois
e per tolosa: parla patois
de nissa a lemotges tamben: parla patois
e mem'a paris, ragga, te fau parlar patois!
repic n° 2:
parla patois ragga, oc parla patois
parla patois que babilona entendra pas
parla patois, comenca e t'arresta pas
per carriera: parla patois
e dins la dansa: parla patois
en amor, ragga: parla patois
e dins la filada tamben: parla patois
repic n° 1:
escota me plan, escota me ben, escota me ragga
ara es papet jali que ven te far bolegar
ara es moussu t. que ven per te far bolegar
mai dins la dansa, oc dins la dansa
lo diluns dins la testa se passeja un repic
lo dimarc, dins la boca vira vira un liric
lo dimecres, lo vau contar per leis amics
lo dijous ven lo riddim que tomba a pic
lo divendres repeticion-repetitit
mai lo dissabte m'en vau per far un bon viatgi
vau cantar per lei ragga d'un vilatgi
ai la joia de far passar encara lo messatgi
e lei cris deis enfants me donaran forca paratgi
repic n° 1:
escota me plan, escota me ben, escota me ragga
ara es papet jali que ven te far bolegar
ara es moussu t. que ven per te far bolegar
mai dins la dansa, oc dins la dansa
repic n° 2:
parla patois ragga, oc parla patois
parla patois que babilona entendra pas
parla patois, comenca e t'arrestes pas
garibaldi, jaures, castan parlan patois
lei trobadors, gelu, chadeuil parlan patois
marti, carlotti, massilia parlan patois
e ta vesina e ta cosina parlan patois
The song "Parla Patois" by Massilia Sound System is a celebration of speaking patois, a regional dialect spoken in Marseille and other parts of southern France. The lyrics encourage listeners to speak patois and to be proud of their regional identity, even in the face of pressure to conform to the dominant language and culture of France. The song features a repeated refrain of "escota me plan, escota me ben, escota me ragga" (listen to me well, listen to me good, listen to my ragga), urging listeners to pay attention to the message being conveyed through the music. The verses describe the experience of being a patois-speaking artist in the music industry, where the pressure to speak French or English can be intense.
The song also acknowledges the diversity of patois, with references to different dialects spoken in Toulouse, Nice, and Limousin, among other regions. The lyrics encourage speakers of patois to use the dialect in all aspects of life, including in love, in the streets, and even while waiting in line. The song ultimately celebrates the beauty and richness of regional identity, and calls on patois-speaking listeners to embrace and share their culture with pride.
Line by Line Meaning
escota me plan, escota me ben, escota me ragga
Listen to my plan, listen well, listen to my ragga music
ara es papet jali que ven te far bolegar
Now it's Papet Jali who comes to make you move
ara es moussu t. que ven per te far bolegar
Now it's Moussu T. who comes to make you move
mai dins la dansa, oc dins la dansa
But in the dance, oh yes, in the dance
siau anat a paris per i veire lei productors
I went to Paris to see the producers
escoteron mon liric, comprengueron ren dau tot
They listened to my lyrics, but understood nothing
me digueron: parlas pas frances, parlas pas espanhou
They said to me, you don't speak French, you don't speak Spanish
parla pas engles, parla pas italian
You don't speak English, you don't speak Italian
parla pas portugues, me sembla pas normau
You don't speak Portuguese, it doesn't seem normal to me
broncha pas moussu rigaud, vau t'explicar, fagues pas paur!
Don't get angry, Moussu Rigaud, I'll explain, don't be afraid!
siau beu, siau caud perque siau provencau
I'm proud, I'm hot because I'm from Provence
is! papet jali que te far marchar lo cor
Yes! Papet Jali will make your heart beat
parla patois ragga, oc parla patois
Speak patois ragga, oh yes, speak patois
parla patois que babilona entendra pas
Speak patois that Babylon won't understand
parla patois, comenca e t'arresta pas
Speak patois, start and don't stop
dedins marsilha: parla patois
In Marseille: speak patois
e per tolosa: parla patois
And for Toulouse: speak patois
de nissa a lemotges tamben: parla patois
From Nice to Limoges too: speak patois
e mem'a paris, ragga, te fau parlar patois!
And even in Paris, ragga, you have to speak patois!
per carriera: parla patois
In the streets: speak patois
e dins la dansa: parla patois
And in the dance: speak patois
en amor, ragga: parla patois
In love, ragga: speak patois
e dins la filada tamben: parla patois
And even in the queue: speak patois
lo diluns dins la testa se passeja un repic
On Mondays, a rhythm wanders in my head
lo dimarc, dins la boca vira vira un liric
On Tuesdays, a lyrics keeps turning in my mouth
lo dimecres, lo vau contar per leis amics
On Wednesdays, I'll tell it to my friends
lo dijous ven lo riddim que tomba a pic
On Thursdays, the riddim comes down sharply
lo divendres repeticion-repetitit
On Fridays, repetition-repetitit
mai lo dissabte m'en vau per far un bon viatgi
But on Saturdays, I go away for a nice trip
vau cantar per lei ragga d'un vilatgi
I'll sing for the ragga of a village
ai la joia de far passar encara lo messatgi
I have the joy of still conveying the message
e lei cris deis enfants me donaran forca paratgi
And the cries of the children will give me strength to endure
Contributed by Zachary F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.