This summer, I visited Montreal, Canada for the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique. The trip was a great opportunity to practice my French, as well as take in some great music!

One of the groups that really made an impression on me was the French-Algerian artist known as “HK” (his name is Kaddour Hadadi). The music was a great blend of reggae, blues, folk and more, with a great message — all in French of course! The festival was a great challenge for my comprehension and speaking skills.

I purchased his CD on my way out of the featival, which thankfully came with an insert with all of the lyrics printed in it. So I set about learning all the words and phrases that were unknown to me…here is one of my favorite tunes from the CD, with English translation and notes. I hope this helps someone with their French learning, and introduces folks in the English-speaking world to this great artist!

Learn more more about HK and purchase the CD here.

Refrain (x2)
Je m’en fous, je m’envole
All the world needs is love

Loin des hommes et loin du bruit
Du fracas de la ville
Loin du cirque incessant
Et loin des courses folles

Refrain (x2)
I don’t care, I’m flying away
All the world needs is love

Far from the men and far from the noise
of the racket of the city
From from the incessant circus
And far from the mad races

De ces files sans fin
Des auto immobiles
De ces bourses qui flambent
Sous l’envolée du pétrole

Pardonnez-moi, braves gens
Moi, je veux partir là-haut
Me laisser porter par le vent
Le sentir sur ma peau

Refrain (x2)
Je m’en fous, je m’envole
All the world needs is love

From these endless lines
of motionless cars
From these markets that soar
Under the oil boom

Forgive me, good people
Me, I want to go up there
Let me be carried by the wind
Feel it on my skin

Refrain (x2)
I don’t care, I’m flying away
All the world needs is love

Planer à mille lieues
Comme un enfant de bohème
Dans mon petit coin de ciel bleu
Auprès des gens que j’aime

Défier les grands vautours
Et fendre les nuages
Devenir à mon tour
Un de ces oiseaux de passage

To soar a thousand leagues away
Like a bohemian child
In my little corner of blue sky
Close to the people I love

To stand up to the great vultures
And to split the clouds
To become in turn
One of these migratory birds

En bas, j’ai le mal de la Terre
Moi, je veux rester là-haut
En bas, je n’ai plus rien à y faire
Sous leurs bannières, sous leurs drapeaux

Refrain (x2)
Je m’en fous, je m’envole
All the world needs is love

Below, I have the evil of the Earth
Me, I want to stay up there
Below, I have nothing left to do
Under their banners, under their flags

Refrain (x2)
I don’t care, I’m flying away
All the world needs is love

Les vieux livres ont parlé
Je vole trop près du Soleil
Ils m’ont déjà condamné
Je me brûlerai les ailes

« C’est écrit », disent-ils aux gens
Qui voudraient, comme moi hier
Obstinément et librement
Rejoindre la voie des airs

The old books have spoken
I’m flying too close to the Sun
They have already sentenced me
I will burn my wings

“It’s written,” they tell people
Who would like to, like me yesterday,
Stubbornly and freely
Reach the airways

Mes frères voudraient que je descende
Ils n’aiment pas me voir là-haut
Finiront-ils par me descendre ?
Ils n’aiment pas les hommes-oiseaux

Refrain (x2)
Je m’en fous, je m’envole
All the world needs is love

All the world needs is love

My brothers would like for me to come down
They do not like to see me up there
Will they end up taking me down ?
They do not like men-birds

Refrain (x2)
I don’t care, I’m flying away
All the world needs is love

All the world needs is love