L'horloge [English translation]

The common man was young and carefree

Sheltered from the horrors of passing years

Invulnerable, carried by the wind

Of that youth which he, alas! believed

Would last forever

As if time stood still and enjoyed itself

With the enthusiasm of his twenty years

He was sure he would steer his boat

Differently from his parents

"You'll see I'll leave my mark"

He told them, a little arrogant

So he had his whole life ahead of him

But the hands on the clock

Are beating time, never deviating

They catch up with us, leaving in their wake

The dreams we haven't fulfilled

Which fade away like a mirage

Giving way to reality

That's life...

That's life...

That's life...

And the common man adjusts his watch

Because suddenly his time is running out

Where once it wasn't a factor

It becomes precious and counted

And in the middle of this wild-goose chase

He says to himself that life goes too fast

A big TV, little vision

A trip to the south to take a break

Acceptance of living in sheep-like fashion

Following the crowd, applying himself to work

In obedience to time which runs so fast

The man realizes he has accomplished little

Because the hands on the clock

Are beating time, never deviating

They catch up with us, leaving in their wake

The dreams we haven't fulfilled

Which fade away like a mirage

Giving way to reality

That's life...

That's life...

That's life...

Then the common man says to himself that he's just getting by

He knows he's way off base

Every morning it's Groundhog Day

And his life is heading straight to a dead end

Ah! How he'd like to change the course

To have the guts to turn back

It's the boldness of our decisions

That is the driving force of our actions

It's what pushes us to cross the bridge

And the ditch of resignation

But whether we're standing still or moving

One thing is certain: nothing can stop time...

Because the hands on the clock

Are beating time, never deviating

They catch up with us, leaving in their wake

The dreams we haven't fulfilled

Which fade away like a mirage

Giving way to reality

That's life...

That's life...

That's life...

Because the hands on the clock

Are beating time, never deviating...

• Artist:Les Cowboys fringants
• Album:Que du vent