Ik Leef [English translation]

Ey yo the

Light goes out and I'm surrounded by darkness

My life flashes before my eyes, the light's as dark as dusk

In the distance I see the light shining

I try to breathe, but my lungs collapse

I envision myself lying like a baby,

So young, clean and innocent,

I'm alive but I can't speak,

I can see my sister playing with me,

The two of us, happy together

The light's becoming brighter

My life's gradually fading away

I can see my mother smiling at me,

I feel her hand caressing my cheek for a last time

I hear my grandmother, chatting and laughing

I hear my dad asking me: "Are you alright?" and wonder,

Is this the time for me to be amongst the dead?

I don't think so, I love my life too much

[Chorus]

I'm alive

The gates won't be opened for me

I'm too young to die now

So I'd like to say one thing, I don't want to,

Get older because deep down I'm still a child

[Chorus]

I'm alive

Life has its ups and downs, sometimes seems so bleak,

Yet I'm proud of what I've achieved

I love life, despite its setbacks,

And I'm strong, there's no reason for me to complain

My love for life can't be put into words

Unfortunately it'll end sometime, though I'd rather stay here

A frightening thought that haunts me,

Because there is no place for death in my life

I was born to live, not to die,

This is my heaven, this is where I want to roam

People talk about a place where all is better

But I've already got a place within me: where peace lies

There's a lot left for me to discover, plenty of special places

It's too early to withdraw me from life

I love the sun, the night, the ground and so

I tell you: this life is too good

[Chorus] x2

I'm alive

Yo, is this truly what love is, or is it just the fear of death?

[The fear of] what comes after, the fear of change?

I really don't know, would I be someone different there?

Will I be stripped of my dreams and thoughts?

Will I be lonely or is it a cosy place?

Will I be the same cog in the wheel there?

Will I have a mother, father or helping sister,

And if I'm done there, will I rest elsewhere?

I'm a cosmopolitan, 100% human, incredibly happy

I'm living in my endless imagination and thoughts

I'm settled here - me, my knowledge and personality

This is a place I'm familiar with

I wish I could pass death and skip it altogether

If it were a choice, I wouldn't decide,

For heaven's gates remain closed to me

Every day in my life is too early to die

[Chorus] x2

I'm alive