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In reply to the discussion: What are the most uplifting peaceful and patriotic songs for you? [View all]Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)67. PETER, PAUL & MARY ~ Le Deserteur ~
Le Déserteur (The Deserter)
par (by) Boris Vian et (and) Harold Berg
Monsieur le Président,
je vous fais une lettre,
que vous lirez peut-être,
si vous avez le temps.
Je viens de recevoir
mes papiers militaires
pour partir à la guerre
avant mercredi soir.
Monsieur le Président
je ne veux pas le faire,
je ne suis pas sur terre
pour tuer de pauvres gens.
C'est pas pour vous fâcher,
il faut que je vous dise,
ma décision est prise,
je m'en vais déserter.
Depuis que je suis né,
j'ai vu mourir mon père,
j'ai vu partir mes frères,
et pleurer mes enfants.
Ma mère a tant souffert,
qu'elle est dedans sa tombe,
et se moque des bombes,
et se moque des vers.
Quand j'étais prisonnier
on m'a volé ma femme,
on m'a volé mon âme,
et tout mon cher passé.
Demain de bon matin,
je fermerai ma porte
au nez des années mortes
j'irai sur les chemins.
Je mendierai ma vie,
sur les routes de France,
de Bretagne en Provence,
et je crierai aux gens:
refusez d'obéir,
refusez de la faire,
n'allez pas à la guerre,
refusez de partir.
S'il faut donner son sang,
allez donner le vôtre,
vous êtes bon apôtre,
monsieur le Président.
Si vous me poursuivez
prévenez vos gendarmes
que je n'aurai pas d'armes
et qu'ils pourront tirer. Mr. President
I'm writing you a letter
that perhaps you will read
If you have the time.
I've just received
my call-up papers
to leave for the front
Before Wednesday night.
Mr. President
I do not want to go
I am not on this earth
to kill wretched people.
It's not to make you mad
I must tell you
my decision is made
I am going to desert.
Since I was born
I have seen my father die
I have seen my brothers leave
and my children cry.
My mother has suffered so,
that she is in her grave
and she laughs at the bombs
and she laughs at the worms.
When I was a prisoner
they stole my wife
they stole my soul
and all my dear past.
Early tomorrow morning
I will shut my door
on these dead years
I will take to the road.
I will beg my way along
on the roads of France
from Brittany to Provence
and I will cry out to the people:
Refuse to obey
refuse to do it
don't go to war
refuse to go.
If blood must be given
go give your own
you are a good apostle
Mr. President.
If you go after me
warn your police
that I'll be unarmed
and that they can shoot.
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Since Defender's Day is 2 days away, and that's when the bombs were bursting in the air
LaydeeBug
Sep 2012
#24