Oseille is a French slang term for "money". While it literally means "sorrel" (a type of herb), it's commonly used in informal contexts to refer to cash or earnings.
In the song, the lyrics question a society where "la money compte plus que l'homme" (money counts more than man), and specifically mention "Si tu ne fais pas de travail que t'apporte de l'oseille / Les gens méprisent ça" (If you don't do work that brings you money / People despise that). This use of oseille highlights the song's critical view of materialism and the pressure to earn money, making it a key word for understanding the song's message.
Travailler paints a vivid picture of the dreaded alarm clock and the robotic rush that follows. From gulping down breakfast to clutching a lukewarm coffee in an overcrowded metro, Irie Révoltés captures the exhausting loop of wake up, commute, grind, repeat. The lyrics tick through every thankless task — nodding to stale newspapers, a boss’s cold demands, and the nagging fear of getting fired — until the chorus pounds in like a factory machine: “Travailler, travailler, travailler.” The everyday worker is shown as a cog, measured only by productivity, speed and silent obedience.
Yet beneath the groove, the song is a fiery protest against a system where money outranks humanity. Irie Révoltés challenges listeners to question why self-worth must hinge on endless labor, why society applauds sacrifice but ignores well-being. The band dreams of a world that shares resources, values people over profit and refuses to “robotize” its citizens. In short, Travailler turns the daily grind into a rallying cry — urging us to break the cycle, reclaim our time and remember life is worth more than a punch-card.