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 gotta know

We're either thieves or robbed

And everyone kills themselves on the job

Whether we're the base or the top

People drop their arms or fold them

You gotta elbow your way to exist

Here you win or shut up

But let me tell you

Kid, look at that pond

Women swim there against the current

Kid, look at all those people

And dance and dance in the wind

Kid, look straight ahead

Men dance there against the current

Kid, look at all those people

And dance and dance in the wind

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your brother who's your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your sister who's your sister

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your brother who's your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your sister who's your sister

Kid, listen, it's not over

Everything's cash and flash, little glory

We mix up dreams and jealousy

It'll all end soon in the dark

People lower their eyes or shut them

You gotta be the brute and the bandit

Here you love or lock yourself away

You can laugh now

Kid, look at that pond

Women swim there against the current

Kid, look at all those people

And dance and dance in the wind

Kid, look straight ahead

Men dance there against the current

Kid, look at all those people

And dance and dance in the wind

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your brother who's your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your sister who's your sister

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your brother who's your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your sister who's your sister

It's not only your brother who's your brother

Come on, come, yeah, yeah

But come on, come

Come on, come on, come

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your brother who's your brother

But come on, come on, come

It's not only your sister who's your sister

But come on, come

It's not only your brother who's your brother

But come on, come

It's not only your sister who's your sister

But come on, come, but come on, come

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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