Poids Plume [English translation]

[Verse 1]

I took my time, with every song I create expectation, niggers

But I write with a pen to the head1, niggers

People said I was a dunce, they see my ink spreading around, niggers

I'm on edge on your tv screens, my quill is long, niggers

You need to be made of stern stuff to get out of our dreary street corners

Where hope is as scarce as the tears of an undertaker

I'm too inspired my love, my sleep is mourning

I'll end up one-eyed blind after so much one-eyed sleep

A little pride, I take it out

A little loud-mouthed, not so clean

A little big-hearted, paternal

Fuck materialism

All the gimmicks I own will be my strenght

The day when happiness becomes an iPhone app

I lay out my commitments in a lyrical fashion

And I'm already working on a new classic on GarageBand

And if it impresses you, that's normal

Because I use the same words as everyone else but I write like no one else

[Chorus]

And it's hard, hard getting used to it

It's hard with the brothers, I'm full of mysteries

They wonder why I speak of misery

I write about my feelings, but it leaves you indifferent

And it's hard, hard getting used to it

I'm arrested by mister police chief

Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it

I've already said everything with my quill, oh...

[Verse 2]

Lately I've been too tender with my dabbling, niggers

With an empty stomach, you got to learn the slope, niggers

You musn't be fooled when my life is lagging behind

I'm not saying no to a career with the Sacem of Magik System

I have no theme, I'm influenced by the bush

I write lyrics about my finances, my dollar, dollar blues

And I make a move to be less worse2 than yesterday

I don't give a damn about red carpets, as long as I walk on prayer carpets

In my industry, writing is mechanical

Negritude is marginal

Incertainty, when I do something bad

Can you picture the contradictions I wear on my head

Just like Georges Bush wearing a Maghreb United shirt

But authenticity is the lyrical king

If my life is simulated, may I end up MC in the Sims 3 game

And if it impresses you, that's normal

Because I use the same words as everyone else but I write like no one else

[Chorus]

[Verse 3]

It was time I calmed down 'cause I'm shaking, niggers

When I strangle myself with so many strange words, niggers

I write my life before I lose my mind

I understood very well that's it's not to sit down that people go to Père Lachaise3

Writing hits doesn't make you immortal

I'd like to remind you that success is only ephemeral, that death is an indeterminate lenght contract

I'll also remind you, when you're popular,

That's it's way better iving an anonymous life than a pop king life

I love my hip hop, but I've got writing to keep me from autodestructing

One of these days I'll stop rapping, but I probably won't stop writing

Between crimes, gun

It goes wrong, I shout

We've only got one life, I'm afraid of emptiness if I survive by myself

The Almighty decides

I'm coming from far away, and if my career astounds you it's because my career is full of ups and downs4

And if it impresses you, that's normal

Because I use the same words as everyone else but I write like no one else

1. Instead of 'gun to the head'.2. As grammatically wrong in the original lyrics.3. Père Lachaise Cemetery. Play on the fact that 'Lachaise' literally means 'the chair'.4. Play on 'scié' and 'dents de scie'.

• Artist:Youssoupha
• Album:En Noir Et Blanc