Je t'accuse – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Suzane

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotion and powerful message of Suzane's "Je t'accuse." This electro-pop anthem, a direct accusation against societal and judicial inaction on sexual violence, offers an authentic and impactful way to engage with contemporary French and understand its use in expressing profound social commentary and personal resilience. You can learn vocabulary related to social justice and emotional expression, as well as discover how French artists use music to address critical issues and inspire change. The song's evocative lyrics and passionate delivery make it a compelling piece for language learners to connect with culturally and emotionally.

[English]

First, there was Gisèle

Then there was Sophie

Isa, Khadija, and Marie

And my friend Claire

And then there was me too

And then all those

Who never said a word

But you don’t care, do you?

It’ll just be another name on the list

In a news story, in a drawer

Tons of lives shelved with no follow-up

But you won’t do a thing, will you?

And that’s exactly the problem

Justice, should we

Take it into our own hands?

Because I accuse you

Of turning a blind eye when you saw everything

I accuse you

Don’t play innocent, you did nothing when you knew

I accuse you

Right hand raised

I accuse you

And I stand by it

Where were you?

Maybe you don’t even exist

Why are you never there

When we can only believe in you?

Ask all the kids

Who you don’t protect

Not all monsters

Are in movie theaters

But you don’t care, do you?

It’ll just be another name on the list

In a news story, in a drawer

Tons of lives shelved with no follow-up

But you won’t do a thing, will you?

Or should we start harassing you

Justice, should we

Take it into our own hands?

Because I accuse you

Of turning a blind eye when you saw everything

I accuse you

Don’t play innocent, you did nothing when you knew

I accuse you

Right hand raised

I accuse you

And I stand by it, and I stand by it

For all those whom violence

Has condemned to silence

I accuse you

For those who warned

But you never listened

I accuse you

For those who bear

The heaviest punishment

For the victims of your system

I accuse you and I stand by it

...

[French]

D'abord y a eu Gisèle

Et puis y a eu Sophie

Isa, Khadija et Marie

Et ma copine Claire

Et puis y a moi aussi

Et puis toutes celles

Qui n'ont jamais rien dit

Mais t'en as rien à faire, toi

Ça sera qu'un nom d'plus sur la liste

Dans un fait divers, dans un tiroir

Des tonnes de vies classées sans suite

Mais tu vas rien faire, toi

Et c'est bien ça le problème

Justice, est-ce qu'on doit

Te faire nous-mêmes?

Car je t'accuse

De fermer les yeux alors que t'as tout vu

Je t'accuse

Fais pas l'innocent, t'as rien fait quand t'as su

Je t'accuse

Main droite levée

Je t'accuse

Et j'assume

T'étais où?

Sûrement qu't'existes pas

Pourquoi t'es jamais là

Quand on n'croit plus qu'en toi?

Demande à tous les gosses

Que tu n'protèges pas

Tous les monstres ne sont pas

Que dans les salles de cinéma

Mais t'en as rien à faire, toi

Ça sera qu'un nom d'plus sur la liste

Dans un fait divers, dans un tiroir

Des tonnes de vies classées sans suite

Mais tu vas rien faire, toi

Ou faudrait qu'on t'harcèle

Justice, est-ce qu'on doit

Te faire nous-mêmes?

Car je t'accuse

De fermer les yeux alors que t'as tout vu

Je t'accuse

Fais pas l'innocent, t'as rien fait quand t'as su

Je t'accuse

Main droite levée

Je t'accuse

Et j'assume, et j'assume

Pour toutes celles que la violence

A condamnées au silence

Je t'accuse

Pour celles qu'avaient prévenu

Mais que t'as jamais entendues

Je t'accuse

Pour celles qui prennent

La plus lourde des peines

Pour les victimes de ton système

Je t'accuse et j'assume

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
accuser /a.ky.ze/ B2	verb - to accuse, to blame
fermer /fɛʁ.me/ A2	verb - to close, to shut
œil /œj/ A2	noun - eye
nom /nɔm/ A1	noun - name
liste /list/ A2	noun - list
fait divers /fɛ d(ɪ)vɛʁs/ C1	noun - news item, a minor or local event (usually crime or accident)
tiroir /ti.ʁwaʁ/ B1	noun - drawer (of furniture)
vie /vi/ A2	noun - life
classer /klase/ B1	verb - to classify, to file
protéger /pʁɔ.te.ʒe/ B1	verb - to protect
monstre /mɔ̃stʁ/ B2	noun - monster
justice /ʒys.tis/ B2	noun - justice, fairness
violence /vjɔ.lɑ̃s/ B2	noun - violence
condamner /kɔ̃.da.mne/ B2	verb - to condemn, to sentence
silence /si.lɑ̃s/ B1	noun - silence, quiet
victime /vik.tim/ B1	noun - victim
système /sis.tɛm/ B1	noun - system

Key Grammar Structures

• Et puis y a eu Gisèle

  ➔ Use of the past perfect "il y a eu" to indicate an event that happened.

  ➔ "y a eu" is the past tense of "il y a" meaning "there was".

• Mais t'en as rien à faire, toi

  ➔ Negative construction with "ne...rien" and the pronoun "en" replacing a complement.

  ➔ "t'en" = "tu + en" meaning "you (do) about it", with "rien" = "nothing".

• Ça sera qu'un nom d'plus sur la liste

  ➔ Future simple "sera" with the restrictive particle "ne...que" implying "only".

  ➔ "será" = future of "être"; "qu'" contracts "que" before a vowel; the phrase means "will be only a name".

• Je t'accuse

  ➔ Pronoun "t'" (te) as a direct object before a verb, showing object pronoun placement.

  ➔ "t'" is the contracted form of "te" meaning "you" as a direct object.

• Fais pas l'innocent, t'as rien fait quand t'as su

  ➔ Imperative negative without "ne" (colloquial) and use of "t'as" (tu as) for past tense.

  ➔ "Fais pas" = colloquial negative imperative "ne fais pas"; "t'as" = "tu as" (you have).

• Pour toutes celles que la violence a condamnées au silence

  ➔ Relative clause with past participle agreement "condamnées" agreeing with feminine plural "celles".

  ➔ "que" introduces the relative clause; "condamnées" matches "celles" (feminine plural).

• Et j'assume

  ➔ Conjunction "et" linking two independent clauses; pronoun "j'" (je) before a vowel.

  ➔ "j'" = "je" (I) before a vowel; "assume" is the present tense verb meaning "accept responsibility".

• Pour les victimes de ton système

  ➔ Prepositional phrase "de ton système" indicating possession; article omission before plural "victimes".

  ➔ "de" = of; "ton" = your (masc. singular); together they mean "of your system".