I was born in the seventies
In a rapidly changing Quebec
Where the emblem of the fleur-de-lis
Gave the people a bit of hope
But when I look around me today
I'm not remotely proud of my homeland
Everyone's passed out at home like they've been gassed
Their asses sitting on the status quo
They're binging on soap operas
And the stupidest talk shows
Letting themselves die on the couch
Wearing innocent expressions
In this kingdom of poutine *
We bask in mediocrity
Nicely pleased with our routine
And with prefabricated happiness
"Would you like a scratch card?"
The cashier asks me at the convenience store
"Come on big guy, take out a toonie **
Being a millionaire, that's happiness"
That Saturday he starts to dream
That maybe one day he'll leave his hovel
Keep dreaming, you damned moron
You've got one chance in fourteen million
In the casino's parking lot
A guy shoots himself in the head
Having blown all of his money
He wasn't really in the mood to party
But the government brushes it off
In fact they even feed on gamblers
By exploiting their addiction
Kind of like a dealer would do
If this is the Quebec of today
Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast
And to hell with the buffoons that are governing us!
If you dream of being a country
Well I'll tell you, you're off to a bad start
You've got a much better chance of winning the lottery...
For years we had been
A small nation of yes-men
Who girded their loins
When the foreman arrived
Today things have changed a little
The guys are still syndicated
But they gossip three or four around a shovel
Watching the youngest overdo it
But we shouldn't rejoice too hastily
We're still the water-carriers
On the payroll of the elite
And of the full-of-shits in tuxedos
When the boss of a large corporation
Closes its factory in Gaspésie
He won't ask for your opinion
He's going to lay you off without a thanks!
A bum is begging on the streets
At the foot of a large glass building
He's going to pass unnoticed
By the shareholders on their way out
What matters to them is their income
And not the world's problems
"It's not my fault if you're an asshole
The important thing is that I prosper."
And the prime minister pretends
That he cares about the poor
When we know he's working for
The fortunate and their business
The environment, poverty
They're not matters of priority
We don't hear much talk
Behind the ministry's doors
If this is the Quebec of today
Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast
And to hell with the buffoons that are governing us!
If you're happy with this country
Well then my friend that's your opinion
You must be the CEO of a company
When we hear that up North
There are unholy things happening
That our forests are being put to death
The public gossips all about it
But two weeks later it sinks into oblivion
The story is dead and buried
And meanwhile the La Vérendrye park
Keeps getting cut down to the ground
That's the problem with my homeland
There's no one left to be indignant
Against the false democracy
That serves the wealthy and the bankers
In this province populated by ignorant people
We shouldn't reminisce too much about our past
Here there's only the licence plates
That have any bit of memory left... ***
If this is the Quebec of today
Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast
And to hell with the buffoons that are governing us!
If this is what you call a nation !
It's likely you're enough of an idiot
You're ready to run for office...
If this is the Quebec of today
Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast
If this is the Quebec of today
Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast