Dù qu'i sont
Renaud Lyrics

Dù qu'i sont tout's chés compagnies ed' mineurs
Where are all the companies of miners who work hard deep underground, using pickaxes and shovels to extract coal? Where are they?

Qui allottent ed' sous terre faire ech' dur labeur
Who toil deep underground for hours on end, working hard and enduring harsh, difficult conditions?

Au pic, à ltriv'laine, rassaquer ech' carbon
Who extract coal with picks and shovels, mining the earth for this valuable resource?

A l'abattache, au herchache, dù qu'i sont?
Where are those who work with great skill in dangerous jobs like blasting or cutting up coal, always mindful of staying safe?

Dù qu'i sont tous les mineurs du grand saquache
Where are all the coal miners who tirelessly go deep into the mines, digging in dangerous shafts or tunnels?

A l'bowette, à front ed' talle, à l'accrochache
In small or large teams, these miners work painstakingly to mine coal from the depths of the earth, always following safety protocols and procedures.

Méneux ed' quévaux, raccommodeux, porions
These experts - the horse drivers, menders, and supervisors - keep the operation running smoothly and efficiently.

Nou pères, nou hardis taïons, dis dù qu'i sont?
Where are those ou fathers, those brave souls who risked life and limb to provide for their families and communities?

Dù qu'i sont chés rires ed' chés filles à gaillettes
Where are those moments of joy and laughter when the miners and their girlfriends or wives forget about the hardships and have fun together?

Oubliant leu peines pour einn'amourette
In the midst of hard work, love and joy still exist between couples, giving them the opportunity to forget the difficulties for a moment.

Au moulinache, ouvrant comme chés garchons
At the mill, they can let loose like carefree boys, forgetting their troubles for awhile.

Nou lampistes et leu taillettes, dù qu'i sont?
Where are the lamp-lighters and the miners' wives who would mend their torn clothes and keep the homes running while their husbands work?

Dù qu'i sont, i vous d'mind'ront un jour vou gosses
One day, your children will ask, "Where are those people who worked in the mines?"

Les souv'nirs ed'chés gins qui allottent à l'fosse
They will want to know about the people who spent their entire lives working in the mines, digging up coal every day.

Pus d'chevalets, pas d'terrils, et pas d'corons
They will see that the mines are no longer operational, the coal reserves have long since been depleted, and the towns where the miners lived have disappeared.

'vous lamint'rez aussi, dù qu'i sont?
You too will lament, asking where the miners have gone one day.

Porions, galibots, calins, ou ingénieurs
Whether they were supervisors, laborers, or engineers, they all played a vital role in the operation of the mines.

Lampistes, filles à gaillettes, carrieux d'carbor'
These people were all integral parts of the mining community, from those who lit the lamps to those who carried the coal to the surface to be transported elsewhere later on.

Nou terrils, nos molettes, dis dù qu'i sont?
Where are the spoil tips and the equipment they used to extract coal from the ground?

Dù qu'i sont chés bons jonnes ed'douze tréize ans,
Where are the young boys, ages 12 to 13, who worked in the mines to earn a living for themselves and their families?

Au fond pousseux ed' barrous, les pieds in sang,
They worked at the bottom of the mine, pushing wheelbarrows full of coal, with their feet covered in sores and cuts from walking around all day in the rough terrain.

Au jour trieux ed' caillaux et d'bon carbon,
At the end of each day, they deal with harsh conditions as they sift through rocks and coal, sorting out the valuable coal to be sold later.

Nou z'archelles ed' galibots, dù qu'i sont?
Where are the young boys who pushed carts full of coal each day, working in dangerous conditions just like the adult miners?

Dù qu'i sont les Sainte Barbe et les ducasses
Where are those memories of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of miners, and the ducasses or fairs that celebrated the mining industry in the past?

Les fêtes ed' famille, les guinces, les fricasses
Where are the family gatherings, the dances, and the feasts that celebrated the hard work of the miners and their contributions to the local economy?

Loin d'chés grèv's et d'chés accidints du fond
These celebrations are far from any memories of strikes or accidents in the mines that have caused hardship and pain for the workers and their families.

El'tarte à gros bords, les canchons, dù qu'i sont?
Where are the traditional pies with thick crusts, the songs that were sung, and the laughter that used to fill the air during these celebrations?

Dù qu'i sont les viux corons ed' chés mineurs
Where are the old, experienced miners who have been sharing happiness and sorrows with their comrades for a long time?

Dù qu'in partageot insonne les bonheurs,
Where are the memories of sharing moments of joy and happiness with those who worked alongside them in the mines?

L'amitié all' s'trouvot sus l'seul ed'chés masons
Friendship was found among the miners, who shared the same difficult life and found solace in each other's company within their homes and villages.

Les bons momints à ch'pignon, dis dù qu'i sont?
Where are those cherished memories of good times spent with one another, reminiscing about work, life, and family by the fireplace in the old mining villages?