J'Etais Là Lyrics in English by Zazie

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Below, I translated the lyrics of the song J'Etais Là by Zazie from French to English.

J'étais là, tu vois, lui à côté de moi

I was there, you see, him next to me

On avait 6 ans

We were 6 years old

On jouait comme des enfants au docteur

We played like children playing doctor

Au docteur

Playing doctor

J'étais là, je voyais sur son corps les plaies

I was there, I saw on his body the wounds

Les marques, les bleus

The marks, the bruises

J'en croyais pas mes yeux

I couldn't believe my eyes

Mes yeux

My eyes

Et lui qui me disait j'suis un dur

And he who told me I'm tough

Tu vois les brûlures là sur mes bras

You see the burns there on my arms

J'les sens pas

I don't feel them

J'les sens pas

I don't feel them

J'étais là, j'ai rien dit et puis je suis parti de chez lui

I was there, I said nothing and then I left his place

Si j'y suis retournée

If I went back

Plus jamais

Never again

Plus jamais

Never again

J'étais là comme lui j'avais 15 ans à peine

I was there like him, I was barely 15

On était dans la cave chez ses parents

We were in the basement at his parents' house

Je l'aimais tant

I loved him so much

Faut dire qu'il était beau mais il se piquait mon héros à l'héro

I must say he was handsome but he shot up, my hero with heroin

J'étais là quand sa mère est venue me dire

I was there when his mother came to tell me

C'est fini, on l'enterre lundi

It's over, we're burying him on Monday

Lundi

Monday

J'ai pleuré, bien sûr, j'ai pleuré

I cried, of course, I cried

Puis j'ai recommencé à traîner dehors

Then I started hanging out again

Dehors

Outside

J'étais là en octobre 80 après la bombe Copernic

I was there in October 80 after the Copernic bomb

Oui J'étais à la manif

Yes, I was at the protest

Avec tous mes copains

With all my friends

J'étais là, c'est vrai qu'on n'y comprenait rien

I was there, it's true we didn't understand it

Mais on trouvait ça bien

But we thought it was good

Ça bien

It was good

Oui j'étais là pour aider pour le sida, les sans papiers

Yes, I was there to help with AIDS, undocumented immigrants

J'ai chanté

I sang

Chanté

Sang

Sûr que j'étais là pour faire la fête

Sure, I was there to party

Et j'ai levé mon verre à ceux qui n'ont plus rien

And I raised my glass to those who have nothing left

Encore un verre, on n'y peut rien

Another drink, we can't help it

J'étais la devant ma télé à 20 heures

I was there in front of my TV at 8 p.m

J'ai vu le monde s'agiter

I saw the world bustling

S'agiter

Bustling

J'étais là, je savais tout de la Somalie, du Bengladesh et du Rwanda

I was there, I knew all about Somalia, Bangladesh, and Rwanda

J'étais là

I was there

J'ai bien vu le sort que le nord réserve au sud

I clearly saw the fate the north reserves for the south

Bien compris le mépris! J'étais là pour compter les morts

Understood the contempt! I was there to count the dead

J'étais là et je n'ai rien fait

I was there and I did nothing

Et je n'ai rien fait

And I did nothing

J'étais là pourtant

I was there, though

J'étais là et je n'ai rien fait

I was there and I did nothing

Je n'ai rien fait

I did nothing

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"J'Etais La" by Zazie is a poignant song that reflects on the narrator's experiences and observations throughout different stages of their life. The lyrics delve into themes of love, loss, social issues, and personal reflection. From childhood innocence to witnessing domestic violence, drug addiction, societal unrest, and global tragedies, the song captures the narrator's journey of growing awareness and the realization of their own inaction in the face of injustice. Through emotive storytelling and introspective musings, Zazie's powerful lyrics invite listeners to contemplate their own roles in the world and the impact of their choices.

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Zazie J'Etais Là Lyrics