Le Grand Voyage du pauvre nègre [English translation]

Sun of fire on the Red sea.

No wave, nothing moves

On the sea, an old freighter

Going all the way to Borneo

And, in the hold, a negro cries,

A poor negro, a skinny negro,

A skinny negro who's bones

Seem to try to peirce the skin.

"Oh yo... Oh yo...

Mister Dear God, it's not nice.

Me not want leave country

Me want see the big boat

That spits fire and walks on water

And, on the bridge, me I slept.

So boat it left

And captain sait like that:

"Negro with the coal he'll work"

Mister Dear God, it's not nice.

Me not want leave country

Oh yo... Oh yo..."

Always farther around the world,

The old freighter keeps going.

The world is big... Always ports

Always farther... Still ports...

And, in the hold, a negro cries,

A poor negro, a skinny negro,

A skinny negro who's bones

Seem to try to peirce the skin.

"Oh yo... Oh yo...

Mister Dear God, it's not nice.

Now made him lose country

My country, very far on water.

And me work at bottom boat.

Always here like in hell,

Never see sea dancing again,

Never see big blue sky again

And poor negro unhappy.

Mister Dear God, it's not nice.

Me not want leave country

Oh yo... Oh yo..."

At the end of the sky, on the calm sea,

In the clear night, he sees palms,

So he yells: "It's my country !"

And in the sea he jumped

And in the wave a negro sings,

A poor negro, a skinny negro,

A skinny negro who's bones

Seem to try to peirce the skin.

Oh yo... Oh yo...

Mister Dear God, you so nice,

Bring me back to my country.

But come Dear God... Come save me,

Me can not swim forever.

Country too far to get there

And poor negro tired.

That's it... Finished !... Mister Dear God !...

Goodbye country... Goodbye everyone

Mister Dear God, it's not nice.

Me not want leave country

Oh yo... Oh yo...

• Artist:Édith Piaf