Lyrics & Translation
Embark on a lyrical journey with Bigflo & Oli's "Mourir pour renaître" to deepen your understanding of French. This song is a masterclass in French introspection and wordplay, offering a chance to learn vocabulary related to emotions, personal struggles, and philosophical questions. Its poignant and clear-spoken verses make it a compelling and accessible piece for language learners to connect with contemporary French music.
The number of times I’ve cracked, cried out of rage
The number of prayers, gritted teeth, hoping it would work
The number of disappointments, betrayals, you have no idea
Bro, just give up, I think we’re never gonna make it
I could have been a YouTuber, but I love rap too much
2011, opening act for Sefyu in concert on the steps
When things are going so badly you start to question yourself
Festivals at 3 PM in front of no one
What a life, introduce me to the author of this story
In Toulouse, I move crowds like Messi in Rosario
I want the cash, the bank transfers, I want the coins like Wario
I don’t know how to love myself so I buy myself gifts
So I bring my childhood friends to a big villa
Volleyball in the pool, a glass of sangria
And time goes by too fast, how do I catch up?
The money makes me sometimes blackout
Yeah (yeah)
Times are tough, but I keep moving forward anyway
(I keep moving forward, I keep moving forward, I keep moving forward)
I thought I saw a missile through the window
Do we have to die to be reborn?
(Do we have to? Do we have to?)
Do we have to die?
Breakup with my ex, twenty minutes later
My friend tells me he’s getting married
I almost could have bet against it
As if fate is mocking me
My obsessive-compulsive disorder
My personal life
The opposite of my professional success
These days, I see my mother less than my therapist
I’m missing two hours of sleep
I end my night in a taxi
Depressed at nine, motivated at ten
I want to look at life like Ariana looked at Mac Miller
That’s my life as a rapper (that’s it)
Vaccinated against haters, a detector of freeloaders
Little brother, I don’t know how to make choices (no)
I don’t know when things are serious
I only worry when Flo worries about me
My father tells me about the time he was begging, around a cocktail
He tells me “as long as we get out, I don’t care about the number of stars in the hotel”
Moments are too short since we started selling records
Of course he loves his Rolex, but he
He wants time with his sons
Two weeks off, I need to rest
We meet up with friends, house on the coast
In detox, I erase all my obsessions
I needed to sleep, it’s just me who’s surprised by that
I’ll admit it
But in this extraordinary life, since I was a kid
I’ve lost the codes
Yeah
As long as I haven’t lost my mind
I tell myself everything’s alright (everything’s alright)
From living like I’m going to die tomorrow
I might die tomorrow
Times are tough, but I keep moving forward anyway
(I keep moving forward, I keep moving forward, I keep moving forward)
I thought I saw a missile through the window
Do we have to die to be reborn?
(Do we have to? Do we have to?)
Do we have to die?
Do we have to die to be reborn?
Do we have to die?
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
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marcher /maʁ.ʃe/ A2 |
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pleurer /plø.ʁe/ A2 |
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déception /de.sep.sjɔ̃/ B1 |
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trahison /tʁe.zi.zɔ̃/ B2 |
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questionner /kɛs.tjɔ.ne/ B2 |
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cash /kaʃ/ B1 |
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cadeau /ka.do/ A2 |
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temps /tɑ̃/ A1 |
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avancer /a.vɑ̃.se/ A2 |
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obliger /ɔ.bli.ʒe/ B1 |
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mourir /mu.ʁiʁ/ A2 |
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renaître /ʁə.nɛ.tʁ/ B1 |
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rupture /ʁyp.tyʁ/ B1 |
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destin /dɛs.tɛ̃/ B2 |
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réussite /ʁe.sit/ B1 |
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manche /mɑ̃ʃ/ B2 |
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perdre /pɛʁdʁ/ A2 |
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tête /tɛt/ A1 |
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Are there any new words in “Mourir pour renaître” you don’t know yet?
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Key Grammar Structures
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J'vous avais dit qu'on était chauds
➔ Plus-que-parfait (Plus-que-parfait)
➔ The *plus-que-parfait* indicates an action completed *before* another action in the past. Here, it signifies that they had previously told someone they were 'hot' (successful/ready) before the current situation.
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J'aurais pu être YouTuber, mais j'aime trop le rap
➔ Conditionnel passé (Conditional Perfect)
➔ The *conditionnel passé* expresses what *could have* happened in the past under certain conditions. Here, it indicates a hypothetical past possibility – he could have been a YouTuber, but his love for rap prevented it.
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J'veux le cash, le wari, je veux les pièces comme Wario
➔ Subjonctif Présent (Present Subjunctive)
➔ The *subjonctif présent* is used to express desires, wishes, or emotions. Here, it conveys a strong desire for money ('cash', 'wari', 'pieces').
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Et le temps passe trop vite, comment je le rattrape?
➔ Inversion (Inversion)
➔ The question 'Comment je le rattrape?' uses inversion. The pronoun 'je' comes *before* the verb 'le rattrape' instead of after, which is typical in questions without question words.
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J'ai cru voir un missile à travers la fenêtre
➔ Passé Composé (Compound Past)
➔ The *passé composé* describes a completed action in the past. Here, it refers to the act of believing he saw a missile.
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Il me dit 'tant qu'on part, j'm'en fous du nombre d'étoiles de l'hôtel'
➔ Subjonctif Présent (Present Subjunctive) within direct speech
➔ The phrase 'tant qu'on part' uses the subjunctive to express a condition. It's part of the direct quote from his father, maintaining the informal tone.
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J'veux regarder la vie comme Ariana regardait Mac Miller
➔ Comparaison (Comparison)
➔ This line uses a direct comparison, drawing a parallel between the speaker's desire to view life and Ariana Grande's perspective on Mac Miller's life. It's a metaphorical comparison.
