Cent ans de plus [English translation]

One hundred years in a slave’s skin

then a hundred years more—

Picking up food fallen on the floor

before white folks walk all over it.

Sleeping on beds that are no more than planks,

Allowed to sing on Sunday only.

Oh, you see the black woman

in the role of the maid

with her man next to her,

his body bent out of shape—

After all that

it should come as no surprise:

They’re the ones

they’re the ones

who gave us

Son House and Charley Patton,

Howlin’ Wolf and Blind Lemon.

African blood is mighty red

on that pretty little cotton flower.

America was brand new—

What a fine democracy, Welcome!

Boats carrying away entire villages

after that endless journey

It’s all forever engraved in our collective memory:

each ivory tear

and each iron collar.

After all that

it should come as no surprise:

They’re the ones

they’re the ones

who gave us

Son House and Charley Patton,

Ma Rainey and Robert Johnson.

Always do your best to please the traders of ghosts:

they’re the ones who gave us

the woman being bought and the man being sold.

they’re the ones who gave us

Given the maximum sentence at birth.

they’re the ones who gave us

But still alive in who we are!

they’re the ones who gave us

This people banished from the rest of humanity,

they’re the ones who gave us

Longing for the blue of our former kingdoms.

they’re the ones who gave us

They’re the ones who gave us—it should come as no surprise

Son House and Charley Patton,

Ma Rainey and Robert Johnson,

Son House and Charley Patton...

Son House and Charley Patton,

Ma Rainey and Robert Johnson...