Merveilles translates to "wonders" or "marvels". It's a beautiful and evocative word that conjures images of extraordinary things.
In the song, Tiken Jah Fakoly sings, "On nous promet mondes et merveilles" (They promise us worlds and wonders). He uses this word to highlight the grand, often unfulfilled, promises made to people, contrasting them with the harsh realities of daily life. This makes it a poignant and memorable choice.
Arriver à rêver – literally “manage to dream” – is Tiken Jah Fakoly’s energetic reminder that every great change starts in our imagination. Over a sunny reggae beat, the French artist repeats his mantra to snap us out of the daily grind: we rush to work while politicians sell us “mondes et merveilles,” and the planet burns. He urges us to pause, breathe, and picture le monde d’après – a fairer, greener tomorrow.
The second verse raises the stakes. There is only one Earth, our children are counting on us, and running away from problems won’t cut it. Fakoly asks how we can make the world breathable again and life truly livable. The song becomes both wake-up call and pep talk: keep dreaming big, then roll up your sleeves and turn those dreams into reality.