| Dieu que la vie est cruelle
| God life is cruel
|
| Au musicien des ruelles
| To the backstreet musician
|
| Son copain, son compagnon
| Her boyfriend, her companion
|
| C’est l’accordéon
| It's the accordion
|
| Qui c’est-y qui l’aide à vivre
| Who is it that helps him to live
|
| À s’asseoir quand il s’enivre
| To sit when he gets drunk
|
| C’est-y vous, c’est moi, mais non
| It's you, it's me, but no
|
| C’est l’accordéon
| It's the accordion
|
| Accordez accordez accordez donc
| grant grant grant therefore grant
|
| L’aumône à l’accordé l’accordéon
| Alms giving the accordion
|
| Ils sont comme cul et chemise
| They are like ass and shirt
|
| Et quand on les verbalise
| And when we verbalize them
|
| Il accompagne au violon
| He accompanies on the violin
|
| Son accordéon
| His accordion
|
| Il passe une nuit tranquille
| He's having a quiet night
|
| Puis au matin il refile
| Then in the morning he refils
|
| Un peu d’air dans les poumons
| A little air in the lungs
|
| De l’accordéon
| accordion
|
| Accordez accordez accordez donc
| grant grant grant therefore grant
|
| L’aumône à l’accordé, l’accordéon
| Alms giving, accordion
|
| Quand parfois il lui massacre
| When sometimes he slaughters her
|
| Ses petits boutons de nacre
| Her little mother-of-pearl buttons
|
| Il en fauche à son veston
| He takes some from his jacket
|
| Pour l’accordéon
| For the accordion
|
| Lui, emprunte ses bretelles
| He borrows his braces
|
| Pour secourir la ficelle
| To rescue the string
|
| Qui retient ses pantalons
| Who holds up his pants
|
| En accordéon
| Accordion
|
| Accordez accordez accordez donc
| grant grant grant therefore grant
|
| L’aumône à l’accordé, l’accordéon
| Alms giving, accordion
|
| Mais un jour par lassitude
| But one day out of weariness
|
| Il laissera la solitude
| He will leave loneliness
|
| Se pointer à l’horizon
| Pointing to the horizon
|
| De l’accordéon
| accordion
|
| Il en tirera cinquante
| He'll get fifty
|
| Centimes à la brocante
| Pennies at the flea market
|
| Et on fera plus attention
| And we'll pay more attention
|
| À l’accordéon | On the accordion |