People just came to see us
It makes them happy to hear our fanfare
We have green uniforms and caps
Me, to look better I put on shoulder pads
My tuba winds up, like a constrictor boa
I scrubbed it so much that it looks like gold
Its shining bell is my halo
You can see you in it, distorts it crinkles
I walk all behind with the drums
Lips stuck to my mouthpiece
Thunder the bass, resound the cymbals
Storm the trumpets, village fair
I like to parade dressed like everyone else
Usually they make fun of me
So I like to be confused with
The notary's son, the manager of the grocery store
Me, I collect the leaves for the municipality
And the cheerleaders hop in time
Masterfully led by the Queen of Dance
Her name is Nadège, she is amazingly beautiful
Besides, we are all in love with her
She looks like, with her ponytail
A mermaid with normal legs
Her red mini skirt that I really like
Because we see her panties all the time
Bridge pose, somersault, bending
A step aside, while smiling
She throws her stick which she catches every time
And resumes walking up the knees
"You are beautiful like a fairy, like Miss Picardie,
A TV girl, a Ferrari "
That's what was in the letter I sent to her
She doesn't know it was me, I didn't dare to sign
Because there is a problem, he is a soldier
He's got a nice uniform, a real one, from the air force
He does his service at the barracks next door
At the fun fair Nadège kissed him
I too could have had the same uniform
Why is it always the same that we reform ?
because in my head there is something wrong
The motherland and Nadège, they don't want me
Sometimes I have dreams, I have my green uniform
But in my dream, it is that of the air force
I take the lead, on the Champs-Élysées
And Nadège, she is proud, in my dream, we are married
But when grandma wakes me up
I become again the one who picks up the leaves
The good-for-nothing, not-all-lights-on
And the children make fun of me and call me names
I don't care about kids, besides, I don't care about anything
Majorettes' skirts and what's underneath
I would like all of them to die with their fanfare
The real uniforms and their handsome soldiers
I'm going to make wrong notes, trash the Madelon1
So that Nadège once misses her stick
Spoil the parade, break their ears
I am good-for-nothing, you know ?
I pick up the dead leaves.
1. Classic french song : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Madelon