Yaka Danse
Raft Lyrics

The lyrics to Raft's song "Yaka Danse" express a message of unity and celebration of diversity while also acknowledging the realities of racial and social tensions. The song questions whether we will allow everything to pass, leave everything behind and break everything apart. It asks if we don't have enough suffering and wrongdoing already. The lines "Dom et Tom en bateau, tombe à l'eau Calédonie : Qui reste Aborigène à la fin des colonies ?" reference the struggles of the Aboriginal population in New Caledonia against French colonialism, reminding us of how colonialism has caused much harm and pain.

The lyrics then take on a more direct critique of the ways in which society creates divisions amongst people. It references the SS-20 missile that was deployed during the Cold War, as well as the struggles of Warsaw and Soweto, to illustrate how we create heroes and ghettos for individuals and groups. Raft also mentions the persecution of Gypsies and homosexuals and the destruction of Indigenous cultures in the name of nationalism. This line focuses on the use of one group for the supposed benefit of another, and the injustices that result from this. The song calls for unity and the removal of racial and social divides, with the lines "Y'a qu'à danser ! Cadencez ! Biguinez ! Zoukez ! Gars et filles tout mélangés, Races et peaux tout collées ! Y'a qu'à rouler ! Swinguez ! Secouez ! A nous, allez ! A jamais nous tout liés, Couleur et sang mêlés!" which encourage us to dance and come together regardless of race or social status.

Overall, the lyrics to "Yaka Danse" promote a vision of a world where everyone is treated as an equal and where diversity is celebrated. The lyrics are a call to dismantle systems of oppression and create a more just and harmonious world.