Ton Héritage Lyrics in English by Benjamin Biolay

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Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Ton Héritage by Benjamin Biolay from French to English.

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If you like rainy evenings

My child, my child

The alleys of Italy

And the footsteps of passers-by

The eternal litany

Of dead leaves in the wind

That let out one last cry

Cry, my child

If you like the clear spells

My child, my child

To take a midnight swim

In the great ocean

If you like the wicked life

Your reflection in the pond

If you want your friends

Close to you, all the time

If you pray when night falls

My child, my child

If you don't put flowers on graves

But cherish the absent

If you're afraid of the bomb

And the sky too vast

If you talk to your shadow

From time to time

If you like low tide

My child, my child

The sun on the terrace

And the moon under the awning

If they often lose your trail

As soon as spring arrives

If life overwhelms you

Move on, my child

It's not your fault

It's your heritage

And it'll be even worse

When you're my age

It's not your fault

It's your flesh, your blood

You'll have to live with it

Or, rather, without

If you forget first names

Addresses and ages

But almost never the sound

Of a voice, a face

If you like what's good

If you see mirages

If you prefer Paris

When the storm comes

If you like bitter tastes

And winters all white

If you like the last drinks

And disturbing mysteries

If you like to feel the earth

And the volcano erupting

If you're afraid of the void

The void, my child

It's not your fault

It's your heritage

And it'll be even worse

When you're my age

It's not your fault

It's your flesh, your blood

You'll have to live with it

Or, rather, without

If you like to leave first

My child, my child

Before the other wakes up

Before they leave you hanging

If you're afraid of sleep

And of time passing

If you like crimson autumn

Wonder, blood red

If you're afraid of the crowd

But can stand people

If your ideals crumble

The night you turn twenty

And if everything unfolds

Never like in your plans

If you're just a rolling stone

Roll, my child

It's not your fault

It's your heritage

And it'll be even worse

When you're my age

It's not your fault

It's your flesh, your blood

You'll have to live with it

Or, rather, without

My child

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Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

Benjamin Biolay

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héritage — heritage

Héritage translates directly to "heritage" or "inheritance". It's a profound word that carries significant weight, especially in the context of family and legacy.

In this song, Benjamin Biolay uses it to describe the inescapable traits and circumstances passed down through generations. He sings, "Ça n'est pas ta faute, C'est ton héritage" (It's not your fault, It's your heritage), suggesting that certain aspects of life, both good and bad, are simply inherited and must be accepted. This makes it a very thought-provoking and central theme of the song.

Benjamin Biolay's "Ton Héritage" is a beautiful, melancholic reflection on the traits and tendencies we inherit, whether we like them or not. He's speaking to a child, listing a series of preferences and fears that might seem a bit unusual or difficult, like loving "les soirs de pluie" [rainy evenings] or having "peur du vide" [fear of the void]. It's as if he's saying, "If you're a bit different, if life feels overwhelming sometimes, that's okay."

The song really hits home with the lines, "Ça n'est pas ta faute / C'est ton héritage" [It's not your fault / It's your heritage]. He suggests that these quirks, these ways of seeing the world – whether it's preferring "les goûts amers" [bitter tastes] or feeling lost "dès qu'arrive le printemps" [as soon as spring arrives] – are simply part of who you are, passed down through blood and experience. It's a comforting thought, acknowledging that some struggles and unique perspectives are just part of the package, and we have to learn to live "avec / Ou, plutôt sans" [with it / Or, rather, without it].

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Benjamin Biolay Ton Héritage Lyrics