[Translation of Harmonium — "Chanson noire"]
I. The Good and The Bad
The good and the bad
It makes the tears flow
It renders us vegetative
We pass forever from white hands to dirty ones
All is good that ends badly
Life and death
It divides your whole body
It creates a false departure
When the man who is entering is the same one leaving:
A double life for a single death
Water me from evening to morning
Make your life flow into my veins
I’m drying you in my corner
Caught between love and hate
It divides the week poorly
The empty heart, the full mouth
While life seeks to break its chains
Death leaves knots in my veins
Ooh la la la la la la
When you don’t have the choice to know everything
You get a tailor-made head
When your only choice is to disappear
You get a body wearing down
It’s silly, my head giving me heartache
I fear the storm like a flower
I become dull, then I lock myself up: hollower still
Fear discovers me under my eyes
Oh la la la la la la la, la-la la la
I pass through white nights
Looking for what to do with my days
Stiff as a board
I want to climb the ceiling
But I’m caught in the floorboards
I can’t stay
I cannot get out
I wait in silence
For my deliverance
I can’t sleep
I cannot choose
Every night, I sing myself
A black song
II. For a White Ceremony
Take my hand
Could you squeeze the rope and my fist?
Black flower, you need water
Drive your thorn into my skin
Take my hand
Warm my nose, I can’t feel anything anymore
Black snow, powder of winter
Come freeze over my hell
Praised are those who live higher up
Me, I rented the room just to use the sink
My blood flows and passes like water
Take my hand
Burn a scent, discover your bosom
A white ceremony
Of fear of giving life
Blessed are those who do good
Me, I’m quite happy when I think of doing nothing
My blood ages like wine, mmm
Give me something to eat, I’m hungry
Give me a glimmer, I’m scared
No one can do it but you because I do nothing, ooh
I’m thirsty, I’m starving
I want to swallow everything, even the refrain
Pour some water in my wine again
Take my hand
Can you drag me to the other refrain?
Black singing, a religious cry
You redden the white of the eyes, ooh
Alive are all those who sing louder
Me, I live with all those who think they must cry out again
My blood is silent as gold
Give me the truth, I’m starving
Give me joy, I’m scared
No one can know it but you because I know nothing, ooh
I’m thirsty, I’m hungry
I don’t want to shut down, like the refrain
Black flower, fall on my skin
Black snow, freeze my back
Black song, lull my brain