Le déserteur [English translation]

Mr President, I am writing you a letter

That you will read, perhaps

If you have the time

I came to receive

My military papers

To go to the war

Last Wednesday evening

Mr President

I don't want to do that

I am not on this earth

To kill these poor people

It's not to make you angry

I must say to you

My decision is made

I am going to desert

Since I was born

I saw my father die

I saw my brothers leave

And my children cry

My mother has suffered so much

That she is inside her tomb

And she mocks bombs

And she mocks their targets

When I was a prisoner

You stole my wife from me

You stole my soul from me

And all dear to me passed

Tomorrow in the early morning

I will close my door

In the nose of the dead years

I will go down these paths

I will beg for my life

On the roads of France

Of Brittany and Provence

And I will say to people

Refuse to obey

Refuse to do it

Don't go to war

Refuse to leave

If you must give your blood

Go to give yours

You are a good apostle

Mr President

If you chase me

Tell your policemen

That I am not armed

And that they can shoot

• Artist:Boris Vian