J'étais là [English translation]

I was there, you see him standing next to me

we were six years old

We played doctor, doctor like kids

I was there, I saw the bruises, the scars

I couldn't believe my eyes

my eyes

And he told me I was tough

You see, the burns on my arms

I don't feel them

I don't feel them

I was there, I didn't say anything

And then I left his house

If I had returned there

Never again

Never again

I was there like him, I was barely 15

We were in the basement in his parents' house

I loved him so much

it has to be said he was handsome, but he took heroin, my hero

I was there when his mother came to tell me

It's over, the funeral's on monday

monday

I cried, of course I cried

But then I went outside again

outside

I was there, October 8th after the bomb (copernick)

Yes, I was at the manifestation

With all my friends

I was there, it's true, although I didn't understand a thing of it

But we thought it was okay

Okay

Yes I was there to help people with aids and the homeless

I sang

Sang

Of course I was there to celebrate

And I raised my glass to them who lost everything

One more glass, we couldn't help it

I was there watching TV at 8 pm

I've seen the world agitate

agitate

I was just there when I came back from Somalia, Bangladesh and Rouanda

I was there

I've seen the fate North keeps for South

Who got the contempt! I was there to count de dead

I was there and I didn't do anything

and I didn't do anything

Still I was there

I was there and I didn't do anything