Translation of the song lyrics Quand un soldat (1954/56) - Yves Montand

Quand un soldat (1954/56) (original)

Fleur au fusil tambour battant il va
Il a vingt ans un cœur d´amant qui bat
Un adjudant pour surveiller ses pas
Et son barda contre ses flancs qui bat
Quand un soldat s´en va-t-en guerre il a
Dans sa musette son bâton d´maréchal
Quand un soldat revient de guerre il a
Dans sa musette un peu de linge sale
Partir pour mourir un peu
A la guerre à la guerre
C´est un drôle de petit jeu
Qui n´va guère aux amoureux
Pourtant c´est presque toujours
Quand revient l´été
Qu´il faut s´en aller
Le ciel regarde partir
Ceux qui vont mourir
Au pas cadencé
Des hommes il en faut toujours
Car la guerre car la guerre
Se fout des serments d´amour
Elle n´aime que l´son du tambour
Quand un soldat s´en va-t-en guerre il a
Des tas de chansons et des fleurs sous ses pas
Quand un soldat revient de guerre il a
Simplement eu d´la veine et puis voilà…

(translation)

Flower to the gun beating drum he goes
He is twenty years old with a beating lover's heart
A warrant officer to watch his steps
And his gear against his beating sides
When a soldier goes to war he has
In his musette his marshal's baton
When a soldier returns from war he has
In his haversack some dirty laundry
Leaving to die a little
To war to war
It's a funny little game
Who hardly goes to lovers
Yet it is almost always
When does summer come back
That we have to go
The sky is watching
Those who will die
In quick time
Men are always needed
Because the war because the war
Doesn't care about oaths of love
She only likes the sound of the drum
When a soldier goes to war he has
Loads of songs and flowers under her feet
When a soldier returns from war he has
Just lucked out and then voila...