c'est la vie
UB40 and Toots Hibbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'd seen a lady sell her baby
For ten or twenty dollars maybe
And everybody thinks she's crazy
They're too blind to see
She never failed to call attention
To the things we never ment
Real horror, daily, courtesy of your T-V
A woman came and said to me
Now listen very carefully
There's brother killing brother
People living on their knees
Biting sugar coated bullets
For the pain of this disease
C'est La Vie
A woman came and said to me
She had a husband on an island
Found his body on a wasteland
Soldiers came and took him
Just to torture her you see
C'est la vie
All alone she mourned her lover
Crossed the sea to find a brother
Maybe he could help her get her baby back for free
More stuff
about C'est La Vie
The lyrics of "C'est La Vie" by UB40 and Toots Hibbert are commenting on the bleak, often brutal realities of life that are often ignored or overshadowed by more superficial concerns. The song is divided into three verses, each of which tells a story of human suffering and injustice.
The first verse describes a woman who witnesses another woman selling her baby for a small sum of money. This act is viewed as madness by those who witness it, but the song suggests that it is the result of a society that values profit over compassion. The second verse is about brother turning against brother, and people being forced to accept the injustices of their lives. The third verse tells the story of a woman who lost her husband to war and then had her child taken away from her as well.
Overall, "C'est La Vie" is a powerful critique of the callousness of society, and an appeal for greater empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
A woman came and said to me
A woman approached me to share a disturbing story
She'd seen a lady sell her baby
The woman had witnessed another woman selling her own child
For ten or twenty dollars maybe
The selling price for the baby is shockingly low, indicating the desperate circumstances of the mother
And everybody thinks she's crazy
Society does not understand the mother's predicament and labels her as insane
They're too blind to see
People are ignorant and unwilling to see the root causes of poverty and despair
She never failed to call attention
The woman speaking to the singer was a vocal advocate for social justice
To the things we never meant
She highlighted the ugly realities in the world that are often overlooked or ignored
Real horror, daily, courtesy of your T-V
The media often presents superficial or sensationalized news stories, while ignoring or downplaying the true horrors of everyday life
C'est La Vie
This is life; a French expression to convey the acceptance of life's harsh realities
There's brother killing brother
The woman shared another tragic tale of violence and conflict, this time between family members
People living on their knees
Society has oppressed and marginalized certain groups, reducing them to living in poverty and submission
Biting sugar coated bullets
People have been forced to accept lies and false promises, disguised as comforting words or temporary solutions
For the pain of this disease
This disease refers to a systemic problem that causes suffering and injustice
She had a husband on an island
The woman had more tragic news to share, this time about her own personal loss
Found his body on a wasteland
Her husband was found dead in a desolate area
Soldiers came and took him
The cause of her husband's death was due to military intervention or corruption
Just to torture her you see
The woman is now a victim of intentional cruelty by those in power
All alone she mourned her lover
The woman is left to grieve the loss of her loved one by herself
Crossed the sea to find a brother
She seeks support and comfort from her own family member, who may share her pain and struggle
Maybe he could help her get her baby back for free
The woman may also be seeking assistance to recover her own lost child, if applicable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIM BROWN, ALI CAMPBELL, ROBIN CAMPBELL, EARL FALCONER, NORMAN HASSAN, BRIAN TRAVERS, MICHAEL VIRTUE, TERRENCE OSWALD WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Livi Crazy Music
Thanks for sharing this. Toots' voice is outstanding on this.
john cook
LOVE THIS ALBUM
Music Of Joy Archive
no problem,i'll upload more songs soon....;)