Aux Arbres Citoyens Lyrics in English Yannick Noah

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Aux Arbres Citoyens by Yannick Noah from French to English.
Cement in the plains
Flows up to the mountains
Poison in the fountains
In our countryside
Cyclones in gusts
Our story's taking on water
Our ideal remains
"Showing off"
Buying air by the bar
Filling the scale
A few petrodollars
Against existence
From the equator to the poles
This weight on our shoulders
Of temporary squatters
Now it's not funny anymore
Since things must change
To the trees, citizens!
It's high time we offer
A world for tomorrow!
To the trees, citizens
Some slaps to take
The watch is for tomorrow
Slaps to give back
Make stand upright
An army of reeds
Nobody on their knees
Spread the word
It's true the earth is round
But who'll come tell us
That it's for everybody
And the others to come
Since things must change
To the trees, citizens!
It's high time we offer
A world for tomorrow!
No more time to find out
Whose fault it is
To rely on luck or on others
Now we fight
With you I believe in it
Since things must change
To the trees, citizens!
It's high time we offer
A world for tomorrow!
With you I believe in it
Since things must change
To the trees, citizens!
It's high time we offer
A world for tomorrow!
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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SONG MEANING

Imagine trading battle cries for a forest of raised fists made of branches. That is the spirit of “Aux Arbres Citoyens,” where Yannick Noah flips the French Revolution’s slogan “Aux armes, citoyens” into a green call to action. He paints a vivid picture of a planet drowning in concrete, poisoned fountains, and cyclones that rewrite our history books. The song shouts that buying “air in cans” with petrodollars is absurd, and that humans are only temporary squatters on Earth. With catchy rhythms and sharp images, Noah rallies everyone to stand tall like an “army of reeds,” ready to protect the only home we have.

The chorus is a megaphone urging immediate change: “Aux arbres, citoyens ! Il est grand temps qu’on propose un monde pour demain !” No more pointing fingers, no more waiting for luck. Side by side, the singer believes we can build a fairer, cleaner future. The track blends optimism with urgency, turning eco-anxiety into collective empowerment. By the end, you feel ready to swap excuses for seeds and march toward a tomorrow where every voice—and every tree—counts.

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