Africain à Paris [English translation]

Mama, I'm thinking about you, I'm writing you

From a three stars hotel in Cachan

You see, you shouldn't tremble, here

I have a roof and some money

We live here together, we survive,

We lack almost nothing

It's neither hell nor heaven

To be an African in Paris

(Refrain) x2

Oh, oh! Somewhat in exile,

A stranger in your city,

I'm an African in Paris

Did you know that the promised us some seats?

But it's in the air,

They're not first class seats,

It's a bird called 'Charter'

While waiting for the bird to take off,

With your black hands with magic fingers,

Stir around the cooking pots

A maafe-tasting sun

(Refrain) x2

Oh, oh! Somewhat in exile,

A stranger in your city,

I'm an African in Paris

And from Sunday to Sunday as well,

All I do is work

You see, I'm quite lucky here,

Soon I'll get my papers

Mama, I know that you use to

Go into a panic too fast,

Please don't you worry

If you hear an hotel burned down

(Refrain) x4

Oh, oh! Somewhat in exile,

A stranger in your city,

I'm an African in Paris