Sages comme des sauvages is a… Read Full Bio ↴Sages comme des sauvages, a worldplay.
Sages comme des sauvages is a French duo that implies much more than one country and two people: their debut album Largue la peau is furrowed by journeys and returns, musing and borrowings. Their instrumentarium is linked to their lives.
Ismaël brought back a bouzouki from Greece (where Ava grew up), and a cavaquinho from Brazil (where his mother lived for a while). Ava plays a rare Greek tambourine called defi, that she sets on her lap, inserting her knees inside the drum and hitting the metal jingles with a Chinese chopstick she found in the kitchen. They each write their own songs, composing together, each following their natural slope, Ismaël favoring sophistication, Ava more inclined towards the unvarnished. They are obsessed with music from La Réunion and love to sing in creole.
The name “Sages comme des sauvages” is a pun, a wordplay. In French, the expression “sages comme des images” means to be seen and not heard, literally “tamed/wise as a picture/image”. By replacing the word image with savage, the duet implies that the wise ones might not be as tamed as they seem and certainly no silent postcards. Like any good pun, their name is hard to translate, but no more than Einstürzende Neubauten.
Their debut album “Largue la peau” (Drop the skin) was released in France in September 2015 and was well received by the national radios. Since then the duet has been touring intensively across France and Belgium, spreading their unique songs, subtly cobbled together, intuitive and knowledgeable at the same time, woven in colourful moving figures, unexpected rhythms and harmonies.
Mon commandant
Sages comme des sauvages Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
De papier découpé s'est fabriqué l'argent
De forêts décimées on a fait le papier
Sur tout un continent on a volé ces champs
Mon commandant, mon commandant, mon commandant
Ton grand-père possédait les terres environnant
Et toi jeune héritier chef de toutes les armées
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment de grandir beau mensonge
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment d'avoir habit trop grand
Mon commandant, mon commandant, mon commandant
Des fois le ciel s'entrouvre en se fâchant
Et par les lits creusés des versants fatigués
Se déverse énervée l'eau de tous les torrents
Mon commandant mon commandant mon commandant
Le petit peuple gronde en te voyant
Lis étaient sur la place, chantaient va-t'en va-t'en
Mais tes hommes à la place ont maté les passants
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment de grandir beau mensonge
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment d'avoir habit trop grand
C'était un beau dîner
Le valet avait préparé
Un cochon de lait
Aux oignons truffés
Par le jour des volets
On entendait crier
Ceux qui furent tués
C'est comme avaient prédit ceux qui
C'est comme avait écrit celui
C'est comme on avait vu depuis
Le public s'est offusqué et puis
C'est comme avaient prédit ceux qui
C'est comme avait écrit celui
C'est comme on avait vu depuis
Le public s'est offusqué et puis
The lyrics to Sages comme des sauvages's song Mon Commandant describe an oppressive tyrant who inherited his power from his grand-father, who owned the land surrounding him. The lyrics also talk about the destruction of forests to create paper, which in turn creates money. The song is a commentary on how those in power manipulate those beneath them through force, greed, and manipulation.
The repetition of "Mon commandant" throughout the song creates a sense of fear and subservience towards the tyrant. The use of paper and money as symbols of power highlights how these constructs can be abused to control people's lives. The lyrics also mention how the oppressed population becomes angry and rebellious towards the tyrant, yet are ultimately silenced by violence and force.
The final stanza mentions a dinner where a cooked pig is served, while outside one can hear the cries of those who have been killed. This imagery exemplifies the hypocrisy and cruelty often present in those in power, who can enjoy luxuries while their subordinates suffer.
Overall, Mon Commandant provides a powerful message regarding the dangers of unchecked power and how it can lead to the oppression and violence of those beneath those in charge.
Line by Line Meaning
Mon commandant, mon commandant, mon commandant
The people in power are addressed and respected, no matter what they do.
De papier découpé s'est fabriqué l'argent
Money and power are often created from destruction and exploitation of resources.
De forêts décimées on a fait le papier
Resources are often taken for granted and abused to create more wealth and power.
Sur tout un continent on a volé ces champs
The powerful often take what they want, regardless of the cost to the people or the environment.
Ton grand-père possédait les terres environnant
Wealth and power are often inherited and passed down through generations.
Et toi jeune héritier chef de toutes les armées
Those who inherit power often become ruthless and obedient tyrants.
Te voilà désigné tyran obéissant
Those who hold power often become subservient to those even more powerful than themselves.
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment
C'est comment de grandir beau mensonge
Growing up in a world where power and wealth are based on deception and exploitation is a bitter experience.
C'est comment d'avoir habit trop grand
Having more power and wealth than one can handle is often destructive to oneself and others.
Des fois le ciel s'entrouvre en se fâchant
The natural world often reacts to the abuse and exploitation of its resources by those in power.
Et par les lits creusés des versants fatigués
Se déverse énervée l'eau de tous les torrents
The consequences of overuse and abuse of resources often lead to environmental disasters that affect everyone.
Le petit peuple gronde en te voyant
The less powerful often resent and object to the actions of those in power.
Lis étaient sur la place, chantaient va-t'en va-t'en
Mais tes hommes à la place ont maté les passants
Even peaceful protest against those in power often leads to violence and oppression.
C'était un beau dîner
Le valet avait préparé
Un cochon de lait
Aux oignons truffés
Par le jour des volets
On entendait crier
Ceux qui furent tués
Those in power often live in luxury and excess, while others suffer and die.
C'est comme avaient prédit ceux qui
C'est comme avait écrit celui
C'est comme on avait vu depuis
Le public s'est offusqué et puis
The voices of the less powerful are often ignored until they become too loud to ignore.
Contributed by Dominic R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dech110
Quelle magnifique chanson, et parfaite pour notre commandant actuel
@louisemichel9173
tellement beau et profond, "cetait un bon diner que le valet avait prepareeee un cochon de laiiit aux oignons trufes, par le jouuur des voleeeets on entandait crierrr ceux qui fuuurent tuuuuer .... pouah frissons <3 merci