Extract El Bandi of Cheikh Sidi Bemol in Algiers concert lirics and musics Hocine BOUKELLA.
Translation Aric Wizenberg The bandit
My teeth were on the dole
Like me, they weren't working anymore.
Electricity and gas supplies cut off
I dreamt of coffees and cigs.
Misfortune was watching out at my door,
Eager for finding me dead.
My time would have come,
I became a bandit, forgive me.
In the street, I went out, determined,
A big club in the hand.
I knocked out the first guy around,
I striped him down and left him.
The snakes (1) heard about it,
Went and picked up me, chained.
They nabbed me at the café,
Direction: the Serkadji (2).
Mr. and Mrs. So-and-so,
Unemployed persons and workers,
Every of them said: "This nutcase,
He should be sentenced to death!"
Hopefully, the judge calmed down
When he heard all my miseries.
He said to me: "You're a criminal,
You must pay ten years!"
I spent eight, they released me,
I had missed the neighborhood, Mister!
In Belcourt(3), I wandered,
Walking and lowering the head.
I was afraid of being recognized,
Chased away or insulted
I imagined everyone was full of hatred,
All of them ready to lay into me.
I met a guy from the neighborhood
He said to me: "Welcome, Ali!"
Another said: "Hi!
We weren't anymore expecting you back!"
So I understood a thing:
Friends exist in this world.
I parked myself on the kerb
And let my tears flow.
(1) snakes : cops ; (2) Serkadji : prison of Algiers ; (3) Belcourt : district of Algiers
Extrait El Bandi de Cheikh Sidi Bemol en concert a Alger salle Ibn Zeydoun El Bandi Paroles et Musiques Hocine BOUKELLA (d'apres «Celui Qui A Mal Tourne» de G. BRASSENS) Le Bandit Traduction Hocine Boukella Mes dents etaient au chomage Comme moi, ne bossaient plus. Electricite, gaz coupes, Je revais de cafe et de clope. Le Malheur guettait a ma porte, Impatient de me voir crever. Ma derniere heure allait sonner, J'ai vire bandit, pardonnez-moi. Dans la rue, je sortis, decide, Un grand baton a la main. J'assommais le premier venu, Le depouillais et l'abandonnais. Les serpents eurent vent de l'histoire Et vinrent m'embarquer enchaine. Ils me cueillirent chez le cafetier, Direction : le Serkadji. Monsieur Untel, Madame Unetelle, Le chomeur comme le travailleur, Tous dirent : «Cet energumene, Il faut le condamner a mort!» Heureusement, le juge se radoucit Quand je racontais mes miseres. Il me dit: «Tu es des criminels, Tu dois payer dix ans!» J'en fis huit, on m'a relache, Le quartier me manquait, Monsieur ! A Belcourt, je vais trainer, Marchant et baissant la tete. J'avais peur d'etre reconnu, D'être chasse ou insulte J'imaginais les gens pleins de haine, Tous prets a me tomber dessus. Je trouvais un gars du quartier Qui me dit: «Sois le bienvenue, Ali!» Un autre me dit: «Salut! Te revoir, on n'y comptait plus!» Alors je compris une chose: Il y a des amis dans ce monde. Je posais mon cul sur le trottoir Et laissais jaillir mes larmes.
yeaaahh what a voice! wish I could understand the lyrics! great melodie..
sarah160884 4 years ago
The lirircs translation are here, on the video discription
irawiz 4 years ago