En berne [English translation]

I was born in the seventies

In a rapidly changing Quebec

Where the emblem of the fleur-de-lis

Gave the people a bit of hope

But when I look around me today

I'm not remotely proud of my homeland

Everyone's passed out at home like they've been gassed

Their asses sitting on the status quo

They're binging on soap operas

And the stupidest talk shows

Letting themselves die on the couch

Wearing innocent expressions

In this kingdom of poutine *

We bask in mediocrity

Nicely pleased with our routine

And with prefabricated happiness

"Would you like a scratch card?"

The cashier asks me at the convenience store

"Come on big guy, take out a toonie **

Being a millionaire, that's happiness"

That Saturday he starts to dream

That maybe one day he'll leave his hovel

Keep dreaming, you damned moron

You've got one chance in fourteen million

In the casino's parking lot

A guy shoots himself in the head

Having blown all of his money

He wasn't really in the mood to party

But the government brushes it off

In fact they even feed on gamblers

By exploiting their addiction

Kind of like a dealer would do

If this is the Quebec of today

Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast

And to hell with the buffoons that are governing us!

If you dream of being a country

Well I'll tell you, you're off to a bad start

You've got a much better chance of winning the lottery...

For years we had been

A small nation of yes-men

Who girded their loins

When the foreman arrived

Today things have changed a little

The guys are still syndicated

But they gossip three or four around a shovel

Watching the youngest overdo it

But we shouldn't rejoice too hastily

We're still the water-carriers

On the payroll of the elite

And of the full-of-shits in tuxedos

When the boss of a large corporation

Closes its factory in Gaspésie

He won't ask for your opinion

He's going to lay you off without a thanks!

A bum is begging on the streets

At the foot of a large glass building

He's going to pass unnoticed

By the shareholders on their way out

What matters to them is their income

And not the world's problems

"It's not my fault if you're an asshole

The important thing is that I prosper."

And the prime minister pretends

That he cares about the poor

When we know he's working for

The fortunate and their business

The environment, poverty

They're not matters of priority

We don't hear much talk

Behind the ministry's doors

If this is the Quebec of today

Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast

And to hell with the buffoons that are governing us!

If you're happy with this country

Well then my friend that's your opinion

You must be the CEO of a company

When we hear that up North

There are unholy things happening

That our forests are being put to death

The public gossips all about it

But two weeks later it sinks into oblivion

The story is dead and buried

And meanwhile the La Vérendrye park

Keeps getting cut down to the ground

That's the problem with my homeland

There's no one left to be indignant

Against the false democracy

That serves the wealthy and the bankers

In this province populated by ignorant people

We shouldn't reminisce too much about our past

Here there's only the licence plates

That have any bit of memory left... ***

If this is the Quebec of today

Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast

And to hell with the buffoons that are governing us!

If this is what you call a nation !

It's likely you're enough of an idiot

You're ready to run for office...

If this is the Quebec of today

Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast

If this is the Quebec of today

Well then I'm putting my flag at half-mast

• Artist:Les Cowboys fringants
• Album:Break syndical (2002)