Arsenal
Raphael Lyrics

In Raphaël's song "Arsenal," the singer reflects on the process of growing up and becoming a man in the context of a violent and aggressive environment. The opening lines address a friend who has apparently been beaten up, and the singer wonders how he managed to avoid getting hurt worse. The friend's response is not given, but it is clear that he has undergone some kind of transformation since they were children together. The singer remembers how they used to make fun of the tough guys and bullies, but now his friend has become one of them. Despite this, the friend has earned their respect, and the singer acknowledges that he himself has learned to navigate this harsh world through similar means.

The repeated refrain "Ils sont nombreux à vouloir notre bien, pour finir notre éducation, élevés comme des garçons" ("there are many who want what's best for us, to finish our education, raised like boys") suggests the larger societal forces that shape these young men's lives. They have been taught to be tough and aggressive, to fight their way through obstacles, and to earn respect through violence. This is the only way they know how to survive in the world they inhabit. The final lines imply that this type of education is not desirable or appropriate, but it is all they have been given.

Overall, Raphaël's "Arsenal" is a poignant reflection on the damaging effects of toxic masculinity on young men. The aggressive and violent behavior that is rewarded in their environment is not a true measure of their worth or their potential. The song invites us to question the societal structures that perpetuate this cycle of violence and to consider alternative ways of raising boys and young men.