Everything seems so peaceful in my city
If I am crazy, what is this sanctuary hiding?
These Africans with their sleek hair
Who have made it as Métis1despite everything
All these smiles that flow freely
And so many grants to drink hot chocolate
All the children who want for nothing
And the crowded terraces
I am the din when the masses are quiet
And you seem so peaceful, my city
But don't wait for them to come back
Even if they have no weapons, you see
Don't wait for them to come back
They've already taken four cities
Don't wait for them to take us
Even if they have no weapons, they're there
Don't wait for them to come back
All that's missing is the sand and the setting sun
All that's missing is the sea, the merchants are already there
There's even a little wind whipping
And pigeons pretending to be seagulls
There are bare legs and crossed thighs
As someone wrote, "Nausea"2
All these snacks to make you sick off of happiness
To make you hate that it will soon be four o'clock
I am the din when the masses are quiet
And you seem so peaceful, my city
But don't wait for them to come back
Even if they have no weapons, you see
Don't wait for them to come back
They've already taken four cities
Don't wait for them to take us
Even if they have no weapons, they're there
Don't wait for them to come back
Everything seems so peaceful in my city
But I don't believe it, it's all too easy
All cities are taken with words
Half the people will always be there to say bravo
This isn't war, that's out of fashion
They tell me: "this is just a bad time that you have to get through"
In any case if I throw my lasso
They will be at the door of my ghetto
Like in Toulon, Orange, and Marignane3
But I don't care, we love fistfights here
But don't wait for them to come back
Even if they have no weapons, you see
Don't wait for them to come back
They've already taken four cities
Don't wait for them to take us
Even if they have no weapons, they're there
Don't wait for them to come back
1. Métis is the French term for "mixed-race" but often refers specifically to people of mixed Native American/First Nations and European ancestry. However, in this context I believe it is used more generally, since the previous line mentions Africans.2. "La Nausée" is the name of Jean-Paul Sartre's first novel.3. Toulon, Orange, and Marignane are three cities in France that elected members of the far-right Front National to their mayorships in 1995. FN were very heavy-handed in their management of the cities' cultural scenes. You can read more about it on Wikipedia.