Du rhum, des femmes [English translation]

(Refrain)

Rum, women and beer, by God,

a squeezebox for waltzing as much as we like.

Rum, women, that's what makes us happy,

the devil take us, we've found nothing better.

Oh oh oh oh oh

we've found nothing better.

Hello Captain, polish up your stripes

and keep yourself warm

when it's freezing on the bridge,

for us it's our effort that runs down our foreheads.

Hold the helm steady

you know the drill.

It's been a long time that we haven't touched land,

and again a long time getting

dolly birds only on posters;

Too bad for the one who turns up first

I'll take apart her bridge,

her hold and her poop-deck.

(Refrain)

Everything's inscribed somewhere on my skin,

so much that it's left me with arms

like photo-novels,

war wounds, bottle bottoms, stab wounds

as long as there are bars

there'll be heros.

(to the Refrain)

Three miles from the Cape, it's the fear, it's the frustration,

when your heart's going out of control

and your guts are fermenting;

I try to think about the brothel with the girls who are losing patience,

not about the boat that's creaking and groaning

between two breakers.

(Refrain) (twice)