La Ballade Nord-Irlandaise Lyrics in English Renaud

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song La Ballade Nord-Irlandaise by Renaud from French to English.
I wanted to plant an orange tree
Where no song will ever see one
Where the trees have never yielded
Only pulled-pin grenades
All the way to Derry, my beloved
On my boat, I sailed
I told the men who were fighting
I'm here to plant an orange tree
Let's have a drink, let's go fishing
Not a single war can last
When beer and friendship
And music make us sing
Kill your gods for good
Under no cross does love thrive
It's men, not priests
Who grow orange trees
I wanted to plant an orange tree
Where no song will ever see one
It bloomed and it bore
The sweet fruits of freedom
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SONG MEANING

La Ballade Nord-Irlandaise turns the simple act of planting an orange tree into a vivid symbol of peace and hope. French singer-songwriter Renaud imagines sailing into conflict-torn Northern Ireland, a land where the only “fruit” so far has been the pull-pin explosions of grenades. Instead of taking sides, he offers camaraderie: Let’s share a drink, go fishing, and sing together. By choosing an orange tree—an unmistakable nod to the Orange Order—he reclaims the color for unity rather than division.

Renaud then challenges the roots of the conflict, urging people to “kill your gods” and stop hiding behind religious symbols. Real change, he insists, comes from ordinary men and women who decide to plant seeds of friendship instead of hatred. When the orange tree finally blooms, it yields “the sweet fruit of freedom,” proving that music, fellowship, and a single brave gesture can outshine decades of violence.

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