French language and culture – the past as prologue Posted by Tim Hildreth on Feb 19, 2019 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
I’ve talked about nostalgia before. I’ve also shared mid-century songs from French yé-yé singers like Katty Line and Jacqueline Taïeb . But as the movement known as les gilets jaunes enters its third month, I had to share this new oldie I came across.
Early coverage of the protests from last December.
January updates including links to French news coverage.
The latest coverage on the grand débat.
Plus ça change… / The more things change…
While les gilets jaunes don’t have an official leader (nor according to many, a coherent strategy) their protests did start around major anti-tax protests and they seem, across France, to be protesting the way the world is moving trop vite (too quickly) around them. Well, way back in 1966 Pussy Cat, the young French singer of the group Les Petitis Souris (The little mice), was already singing about the same challenges.
| Nous vivons comme des robots | We live like robots |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no |
| On appelle ça un monde nouveau | They call it a new world |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no |
| Ce n’est pas une vie. | It’s not a life. |
| De se lever sitôt le matin | Getting up so early in the morning |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no. |
| On court de peur de rater son train | Always running out of fear of missing one’s train |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no |
| Ce n’est pas une vie. | It’s not a life. |
| Voyez ces gens accablés de mille soucis | See all these people overwhelmed by a thousand concerns (worries, cares) |
| Non, ce n’est pas marrant | No, it’s not funny |
| Car la vie pour eux n’est plus un paradis | Life for them is no paradise |
| Oh non, oh non, oh non, oh non, oh non. | Oh no, oh no, oh no, … |
| Nous payons beaucoup trop d’impôts | We pay way to much in taxes |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no |
| On ne peut plus trouver le repos | We can’t even find any rest any more |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s not a life, no |
| Ce n’est pas une vie | It’s no life |
| Voyez ces gens accablés de mille soucis | See all these people overwhelmed by a thousand concerns (worries, cares) |
| Non, ce n’est pas marrant | No, it’s not funny |
| Car la vie pour eux n’est plus un paradis | Life for them is no paradise |
| Oh non, oh non, oh non, oh non, oh non. | Oh no, oh no, oh no, … |
| Au lieu de visiter la lune* | Instead of going to the moon |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no |
| Chacun de nous devrait faire fortune | Each one of us should find fortune |
| Ce n’est pas une vie, non | That’s no life, no |
| Ce n’est pas une vie. | It’s not a life. |
| Ce n’est vraiment pas une vie (x3) | It’s really not a life (x3) |
* N’oubliez pas qu’en 1966 on n’avait pas encore marché sur la lune! / Don’t forget that in 1966 man hadn’t walked on the moon yet! It was also before les evenements de mai ’68 / the events of May 1968 (which in the category of ‘past as prologue’ may be more telling) and the first t.v. commercials in France!
Photo by Spencer Selover from Pexels [CC0]
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About the Author: Tim Hildreth
Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.