Santé – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Stromae
• Album: Multitude

Lyrics & Translation

Discover Stromae's "Santé," a vibrant celebration of everyday workers that blends electronic beats with cumbia rhythms. Through its heartfelt lyrics and catchy melody, the song invites listeners to appreciate those often unseen, offering a unique cultural insight into French expression and social commentary.

[English]

To those who have none

...

To those who have none

Rosa, Rosa

When we make a mess, you clean it up

And you, Albert,

When we toast, you collect the glasses

Céline, sweetheart,

You're getting your coats mixed up in the cloakroom

Arlette, stop it,

You spend the party in the toilets

What if we celebrated those who don't celebrate?

For once, I'd like to raise my glass to those who have none

To those who have none

...

What about good manners?

Why would I pretend? She's paid to do it anyway

You think you're my mother? I'll be back in an hour,

It better be clean, so we can eat off the floor

I've been waiting three hours, honestly

Is he making them or what?

Luckily it's only two glasses

Call me your manager

And hurry, your career could end like this

Yes, let's celebrate those who don't celebrate

Once again, I'd like to raise my glass to those who have none

To those who have none

...

To those who have none

...

Rub, rub

Better not get

Rub, rub

If you don't know me

Brush, brush

You can always get lost

Brush, brush

If you don't respect me

Yes, let's celebrate those who don't celebrate

Once again, I'd like to raise my glass to those who have none

To those who have none

...

Airplane pilots or nurses

Truck drivers, flight attendants

Bakers or fishermen

A toast to the champions of the worst schedules

To young parents lulled by tears

To insomniacs by profession

And all those who suffer from heartbreak

Who are not in the mood for celebrations

...

Who are not in the mood for celebrations

...

[French]

À ceux qui n'en ont pas

À ceux qui n'en ont pas

Rosa, Rosa

Quand on fout le bordel, tu nettoies

Et toi, Albert

Quand on trinque, tu ramasses les verres

Céline, bataire

Toi tu t'prends des vestes au vestiaire

Arlette, arrête

Toi la fête tu la passes aux toilettes

Et si on célébrait ceux qui ne célèbrent pas?

Pour une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas

À ceux qui n'en ont pas

Quoi les bonnes manières?

Pourquoi j'f'rais semblant? D'toute façon elle est payée pour le faire

Tu t'prends pour ma mère? Dans une heure j'reviens,

Qu'ce soit propre, qu'on puisse y manger par terre

Trois heures que j'attends, franchement

Il les fabrique ou quoi?

Heureusement qu'c'est que deux verres

Appelle-moi ton responsable

Et fais vite, elle pourrait se finir comme ça ta carrière

Oui, célébrons ceux qui ne célèbrent pas

Encore une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas

À ceux qui n'en ont pas

À ceux qui n'en ont pas

Frotter, frotter

Mieux vaut ne pas s'y

Frotter, frotter

Si tu n'me connais pas

Brosser, brosser

Tu pourras toujours te

Brosser, brosser

Si tu ne me respectes pas

Oui, célébrons ceux qui n'célèbrent pas

Encore une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas

À ceux qui n'en ont pas

Pilotes d'avion ou infirmières

Chauffeurs de camion, hôtesses de l'air

Boulangers ou marins-pêcheurs

Un verre aux champions des pires horaires

Aux jeunes parents bercés par les pleurs

Aux insomniaques de profession

Et tous ceux qui souffrent de peines de cœur

Qui n'ont pas le cœur aux célébrations

Qui n'ont pas l'cœur aux célébrations

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
nettoyer /nɛ.twa.je/ A2	verb - to clean
trinquer /tʁɛ̃.ke/ B1	verb - to toast, to clink glasses
ramasser /ʁa.ma.se/ A2	verb - to pick up, to gather
célébrer /se.le.bʁe/ B1	verb - to celebrate
verre /vɛʁ/ A1	noun - glass
manières /ma.njɛʁ/ B1	noun - manners
propre /pʁɔpʁ/ A2	adjective - clean
carrière /ka.ʁjɛʁ/ B1	noun - career
frotter /fʁɔ.te/ A2	verb - to rub
brosser /bʁɔ.se/ A2	verb - to brush
pilote /pi.lɔt/ B1	noun - pilot
infirmière /ɛ̃.fiʁ.mjɛʁ/ A2	noun - nurse
chauffeur /ʃo.fœʁ/ A1	noun - driver
hôtesse /o.tɛs/ B1	noun - hostess, flight attendant
boulanger /bu.lɑ̃.ʒe/ A2	noun - baker
marin /ma.ʁɛ̃/ A2	noun - sailor
pêcheur /pɛ.ʃœʁ/ A2	noun - fisherman
parent /pa.ʁɑ̃/ A1	noun - parent
insomniaque /ɛ̃.sɔm.njak/ B2	noun - insomniac adjective - insomniac
cœur /kœʁ/ A1	noun - heart

Key Grammar Structures

• À ceux qui n'en ont pas

  ➔ Use of the definite article 'les' combined with the relative pronoun 'qui' to introduce a relative clause.

  ➔ The phrase 'À ceux qui n'en ont pas' means 'To those who do not have [it]', where 'qui' introduces a relative clause describing 'ceux'.

• Quand on fout le bordel, tu nettoies

  ➔ Use of 'quand' to introduce a temporal clause and the present tense verb 'tu nettoies' to indicate habitual or current action.

  ➔ The conjunction 'quand' means 'when' and introduces a temporal clause, while 'tu nettoies' is the present tense form of 'nettoyer' (to clean), indicating an ongoing or habitual action.

• Appelle-moi ton responsable

  ➔ Imperative form of 'appeler' (to call) in the imperative mood; use of 'moi' as a pronoun in the stressed form; and possessive 'ton responsable'.

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative form 'Appelle-moi' ('Call me') to give a command, with 'moi' as a stressed pronoun for emphasis. 'Ton responsable' means 'your manager', a possessive structure.

• Frotter, frotter

  ➔ Imperative verb form used as an expressive command or exhortation; repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ The repeated 'Frotter, frotter' serves as an imperative or an expressive exhortation meaning 'rub' or 'scrub', emphasizing effort or persistence.