Fantôme [English translation]

No one sees me, though I am . . .

I am at the heart of your life

When your gazes flee from me

They abandon me to the void

Do I deserve to be forgotten? (Forgotten)

I am a phantom . . . a forgotten phantom

(Forgotten, forgotten)

I am a phantom . . . a forgotten phantom

I am not a diamond dealer, the place Vendôme¹

But when I look in the mirror

It's not a phantom that I see,

but a man that, like you, has his place

the small stones that I bring to

the edifice are not less important²

But you do not even see me, though

I carry you with boundless energy

I am the glue that holds this country together

Why do you forget me so easily?

Transparent

I don't expect to be thanked anymore

No one sees me, though I am . . .

I am at the heart of your life

When your gazes flee from me

They abandon me to the void

Do I deserve to be forgotten? (Forgotten)

I am a phantom . . . a forgotten phantom

(Forgotten, forgotten)

A forgotten phantom

I am a phantom . . . a forgotten phantom

I am that man that, at dawn,

Prowls and cleans the streets of your city

I would have thrown away my broom years ago

If I had to worry about what you think

I am that man behind the wheel of your bus

And, to you, I am just another driver

But you entrust me with your life

When you fall asleep against the window

I am that instructor

That tries to offer a future to your children

And when I become the object of their ridicule

You are not there to admire my patience

I am that nurse

That teaches a new mother how to breast-feed

But you don't see me because

I don't have a medical license

(Forgotten, forgotten)

I am a phantom . . . a forgotten phantom

No one sees me, though I am . . .

I am at the heart of your life

When your gazes flee from me

They abandon me to the void

Do I deserve to be forgotten? (Forgotten, forgotten)

I am a phantom . . . a forgotten phantom

A forgotten phantom

A forgotten phantom

A forgotten phantom

(Forgotten, forgotten)

I am a phantom . . .