La Cause Lyrics in English Grand Corps Malade , Ben Mazué, Gaël Faye
Couardises means 'cowardice' or 'acts of cowardice'. It's a strong and somewhat formal word that isn't heard in everyday conversation or many popular songs.
In the song, Grand Corps Malade uses it to reflect on the difficult choices artists face when deciding whether to speak out on social issues. He sings about hesitating "Entre les vents froids de la banquise et l'édredon de nos couardises" (Between the cold winds of the ice floe and the duvet of our cowardice), highlighting the internal struggle between taking a stand and succumbing to inaction out of fear.
Feeling the heat to pick a side, Grand Corps Malade and his two lyrical allies turn the spotlight on the artist’s eternal dilemma: Should I shout my truth or stay in my lane? The verses describe friends, journalists, and total strangers who tug at the trio’s sleeves and bark orders: Sign this petition. Back that candidate. Comment on every tragedy. The pressure cooker hisses louder when the same crowd instantly flips and tells them to shut up and sing. Caught in this noisy tug-of-war, the rappers confess their own doubts about legitimacy, expertise, and the fear of sounding preachy.
The chorus answers with both humility and fire. I only know what I’ve lived, Grand Corps Malade reminds us, mentioning ten years in hospital beds, the sting of loss, and the comfort of music. He owns the limits of a song—no track alone will topple governments—but he refuses to be ornamental background noise. Instead, he chooses the middle path: ask tough questions, spark reflection, and stay honest about what he truly knows. La Cause is not a sermon. It is a bright, self-aware manifesto that invites listeners to dance, think, and maybe find the courage to raise their own questions, too.
