They told me, “Don’t ask yourself too many questions;
You know, little one, it’s life that answers you.
What good is it wanting to know everything?
Look up and see what you can see.”
They told me we had to listen to our fathers
But mine didn’t say anything when he cleared off.
Maman told me, “You are too little to understand”
And I grew up with a place to take.
Who has the right? Who has the right?
Who has the right to do this
To a child who truly believes
What the grownups say?
We spend our life saying thank you—
Thank you to whom? For what?
For dictating the rain and good weather
For the children that they lie to.
They told me that men were all alike.
There are many gods, but only one sun!
Yes, but the sun, it shines or it burns.
You die of thirst or you drown.
You too, I’m sure they told you this,
Beautiful stories, you say—what rubbish!
Well now, we find each other on the way
With our fears, our anguish, and our doubts.
Who has the right? Who has the right?
Who has the right to do this
To a child who truly believes
What the grownups say?
We spend our life saying thank you—
Thank you to whom? For what?
For dictating rain and good weather
For the children that they lie to.