Vagabond Lyrics in English by RIDSA
Vagabond directly translates to "vagabond" or "wanderer" in English. It's a word that evokes a sense of rootlessness and a journey without a fixed destination.
In the song, the artist identifies himself as a "vagabond," highlighting his feelings of being lost, alone, and without a permanent home or support system. This word is central to the song's theme of struggle and resilience, making it both memorable and deeply meaningful in context.
Ridsa sets the whole song on one bench in Paris. His mother's voice opens it — "Maman m'a dit 'tu sais mon fils" / "J'm'inquiète pour toi'" (Mom told me 'you know my son' / 'I'm worried about you') — and the street answers her in the next breath: "On me jette d'l'argent, parfois on rit on me dévisage" (People throw money at me, sometimes they laugh, they stare at me). He is far from his family and counting the season: "Je viens de là où les gens se demandent s'ils passeront l'hiver" (I come from where people wonder if they'll make it through the winter).
Against that, the chorus is a refusal to lie down. "Debout le jour, la nuit" (Up during the day, at night) comes back over rain he can still hear, and "Quitte à mourir sur le terrain, seul sur le terrain" (Even if it means dying on the field, alone on the field) is the price he puts on it. The title arrives late and plainly — "Je ne suis qu'un vagabond" / "Qui va me relever si je tombe?" (I'm just a wanderer / Who will pick me up if I fall?) — and the song leaves that question open.
