L'Enfer c'est les Autres [English translation]

Before trying to change the world, people and their History,

I’d need to change the motherfucker that I see in my mirror

Yet, too coward to face it first

Just like you all, I feed on prejudice, much too resentful, so

I hold a grudge against the police, who think I’m a bandit : know

that they’are arrogant and they search me in front of passers-by

Fuck « C.S.I » ! I’ll never be a cop

and if one day I ever become a cop, I would be Dexter

I hold a grudge against the guys from my neighbourhood intoxicated by alcohol

who deal drugs in the hall, in front of my nieces coming home from school,

I hold a grudge against the teachers who wanted to direct me towards darkness

Who made me read authors that called me a nigger

I hold a grudge against Arabs who tell me we share the same values

and yet they hasten to say that my religion is their own

Those who call me « brother » when we are by ourselves

and who are eaten up with jealousy when they run into me with one of their sisters

I hold a grudge against Whites, cynical and patronizing

Who think that the world can only be seen through Western eyes

I’d rather repeat that I’m Black, this way there’s no risk

that one day they might say I was White, like they said about Christ

We have ghettos in our heads that make us isolated

How can we change the world if we don’t even stick together ?

We make mistakes, but we’d rather dodge blame

and we’ll just say that « Hell, is other people »

I hold a grudge against my fans who say they’ll stand by me until they die

But they will forget about me come the next trendy rapper

I hold a grudge against "Ni putes ni soumises"*

I’m disappointed at Fadela Amara** for making a career out of Sohane’s death***

I hold a grudge against Black people : Africa, Caribbean, we let ourselves rot

Because Blacks want Heaven, but they don’t want to die

They talk to you about unity, but once the doors have been closed

at the marabou's, you cast an evil spell on your own brother

A destiny that’s sinking, and people say :

« If you want to hide something from a Black, you have to write it in a book »

I hold a grudge against the African woman, because I think very highly of her

Sister, you’re beautiful with your ebony skin, why try to make it white ?

I’m so pissed at all those who lack moderation

Who condone sionism and its aberrations

Those who do not forget the history of tyrants

and yet become forgetful when it comes to the massacres in the West Bank

I hold a grudge against the court officers who force us to move out, against our mamas’ blues

I’m pissed at Mobutu, at Bush, at Barack Obama

I’m pissed at Osama, at BHL****, at Benedict XVI,

I’m pissed at the whole world : only my music (rap) calms me down

We have ghettos in our heads that make us isolated

How can we change the world if we don’t even stick together?

We make mistakes but we’d rather dodge blame

And we’ll just end up saying « Hell, is other people »

Actually, I’m pissed at myself, between my fits and my tantrums

I hide my distress and conceal my scars

And I act like an artist behind a mask

Because it’s easy to lecture other people when you’re sheltered by a mike

What do I know about other people’s distress, really ?

I’ve been living in a videoclip for so long that I lost touch with reality

I’m mad at myself for being in the number of this world’s slackers,

for having lost my bearings, for not being a father worthy of this name

And the more I rise, the less my dear ones benefit from my help.

and also I’m ashamed, given that I have simply obliterated my hometown

Man is wolf to other Men and I’m a predator

I only pray when everything is going south, always ungrateful towards my Creator

To all the people whom I have judged, sentenced with too much haste

To all my hurt feelings, my much too empty cliches

Heaven, is something you must deserve, and I’m piling up the faults

My bad faith will make me say that « Hell, is other people »

It’s other people, isn’t it ? It’s other people

• Artist:Youssoupha
• Album:Noir Désir