Armstrong [English translation]

Armstrong, I am no black

I am white-skinned

When one wants to sing about hope,

what a rotten luck !

Granted, I see the sky, the bird,

still nothing shines up there.

Angels : none.

I am white-skinned.

Armstrong, you split your side laughing

all your teeths show out.

As for me, I rather brood

all black inside.

Sing for me Luis, oh yeah,

sing, sing, sing it keeps me warm.

I'm cold, oh me

and my white skin.

Armstrong, life is such a fuss!

not so funny, eh?

Be it written white on black

or black on white.

There's mostly red, red to be seen

blood, blood, no bloody truce or rest (1)

neither, I reckon

for black nor white-skinned.

Armstrong, one day sooner or later

we're nothing but bones...

Will yours be black ?

That would be funny.

Come on Luis, come on Lord(2)

Beyond our faded finery

Black and White are alike

like two drops of water.

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(1)&(2) did my best for the puns :).

• Artist:Claude Nougaro