Viens Lyrics in English Yannick Noah

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Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Viens by Yannick Noah from French to English.

Kid, listen, you need to know

We're either thieves or stolen from

And everyone kills themselves at work

Whether at the base or the top

People give up or shut up

You have to fight to exist

Here you win or you shut up

But let me tell you

Kid, look at this pond

Women swim against the current

Kid, look at all these people

And dance and dance in the wind

Kid, look straight ahead

Men dance against the current

Kid, look at all these people

And dance and dance in the wind

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your brother who is your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your sister who is your sister

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your brother who is your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your sister who is your sister

Kid, listen, it's not over

Everything is about money and showing off, a little glory

We confuse dreams and jealousy

Everything will soon end in darkness

People lower their eyes or shut up

You have to be the brute and the crook

Here you love or you shut yourself in

You can laugh now

Kid, look at this pond

Women swim against the current

Kid, look at all these people

And dance and dance in the wind

Kid, look straight ahead

Men dance against the current

Kid, look at all these people

And dance and dance in the wind

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your brother who is your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your sister who is your sister

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your brother who is your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your sister who is your sister

It's not just your brother who is your brother

Come on, yeah, yeah

But come on

Come on, come on

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your brother who is your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not just your sister who is your sister

Come on

It's not just your brother who is your brother

Come on

It's not just your sister who is your sister

Come on, come on

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SONG MEANING

Yannick Noah’s “Viens” is half street-wise pep talk, half sun-splashed rallying cry. Speaking to a young listener (“Gamin”), the singer paints a picture of a harsh world where you are either “voleur” (thief) or “volé” (robbed), where money and ego rule the game, and where people bow their heads or shut their eyes to survive. Yet instead of giving in to cynicism, Noah invites the kid - and all of us - to look up, notice the women and men who keep swimming and dancing contre-courant (against the current), and join the rhythm of resistance.

“Viens” means “Come along.” It is a call to widen our circle of solidarity: “Y a pas que ton frère qui est ton frère… y a pas que ta sœur qui est ta sœur.” In other words, true brothers and sisters are found in spirit, not just in blood. By urging us to dance in the wind, the song flips struggle into celebration, turning social critique into a feel-good anthem that reminds learners and listeners alike that hope, courage, and community are stronger than the toughest current.

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Yannick Noah Viens Lyrics