Nemesis – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Booba
• Album: Blanco nemesis

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of modern French urban culture with 'Nemesis'. This song is a perfect gateway for learners to explore 'Argot' (French slang) and the rhythmic cadence of contemporary rap, making it an exciting way to understand how the French language is spoken in the streets of Paris today.

[English]

Guardian of the Templars

(Baille Broliker Productions)

The cash is there, the Glock is there

Never forgotten, easy

Child of the five pillars, guardian of the Templars

I've got my sword to your neck, I hear the children begging you

My hand is on a skull, blood flows all the way to the kingdom's gates

My heart is as hot as the magma at the very center of the core

I've brought too much money to the continent

I'm in the customs officer's office

Don't ask me if I'm okay, idiot, no one can heal me

Nor can they slip one past me, it's B.A.K.E.L

Slitting throats (throats) to settle the quarrel (quarrel)

Death forges you (forges), I'm going to climb up the Ganges

To find my people, I've got a hole in my hip

Palm in the gold, I've rolled up my sleeves

My demon is asking me (asking me)

Which one am I in? (Which one are you in, bro?)

Bro, I've questioned everything, I'm in that one

Rat-tat-tat burst in broad daylight, in your living room like at Quarteron's

I roll a joint, I smoke it down to the paper

See you in 10 years (watch out)

A little poker game at Patrick Bruel's (watch out)

Angèle's brother (watch out) is a sexual aggressor

It's good to repeat it anyway, even if it costs you dearly

I'll reach the open sea, I'll give the go when there's enough foam (enough foam)

[French]

Gardien des Templiers

(Baille Broliker Productions)

Le cash, il y est, le Glock, il y est

Jamais oublié, izi

Enfant des cinq piliers, gardien des Templiers

J'ai l'épée sur ta nuque, j'entends les enfants te supplier

J'ai la main sur un crâne, le sang coule jusqu'aux portes du royaume

J'ai le cœur aussi chaud que la L.A.V.E tout au centre du noyau

J'ai ramené trop d'oseille sur le continent

J'suis dans l'bureau des douaniers

Me demande pas si ça va, imbécile, personne peut me soigner

Ni me glisser la quenelle, c'est B.A.K.E.L

Trancher des gorges (des gorges) pour régler la querelle (querelle)

La mort, ça forge (forge), j'vais remonter le Gange

Retrouver les miens, j'ai un trou à la hanche

La paume dans l'or, j'ai retroussé mes manches

Mon jnoun me demande (me demande)

J'suis dans laquelle? (T'es dans laquelle, frérot?)

Frérot, j'ai tout remis en question, j'suis dans là-celle

Ra-ra-rafale en plein jour, dans ton salon comme chez Quarteron

Je me roule un bequet, je le fume jusqu'au carton

Rendez-vous dans 10 ans (belek)

P'tite partie d'poker chez Patrick Bruel (belek)

Le frère de Angèle (belek) est un agresseur sexuel

C'est bien d'le répéter quand même, quitte à y laisser des plumes

J'arriverai au large, j'donnerai le go quand y a assez d'écume (assez d'écume)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
gardien ɡaʁdjɛ̃ B1	noun - guardian, keeper
supplier syplije B2	verb - to beg, to implore
crâne kʁan B2	noun - skull
oseille ozɛj C1	noun - money (slang)
douanier duanije B2	noun - customs officer
imbécile ɛ̃besil B1	noun - idiot, fool
trancher tʁɑ̃ʃe B2	verb - to cut, to slice
querelle kɛʁɛl C1	noun - quarrel, dispute
forger fɔʁʒe B2	verb - to forge, to shape
hanche ɑ̃ʃ B1	noun - hip
rafale ʁafal B2	noun - burst, volley (of gunfire)
bequet bəkɛ C2	noun - joint (slang for cannabis)
agresseur aɡʁeseʁ B2	noun - aggressor, attacker
écume ekym B2	noun - foam, froth

Key Grammar Structures

• J'ai l'épée sur ta nuque, j'entends les enfants te supplier

  ➔ Infinitive clause after perception verb

  ➔ After the perception verb "entendre" (to hear), the infinitive "supplier" (to beg) describes the action performed by the object "les enfants".

• J'ai le cœur aussi chaud que la L.A.V.E tout au centre du noyau

  ➔ Comparative structure of equality

  ➔ The structure "aussi ... que" (as ... as) is used here to compare the heat of the heart with the heat of lava.

• Me demande pas si ça va, imbécile, personne peut me soigner

  ➔ Negative imperative and informal negation

  ➔ The artist uses the imperative "ne ... pas" (dropped "ne" for informal speech) to give an order, followed by an elliptical negation "personne peut" (instead of "personne ne peut").

• Trancher des gorges pour régler la querelle

  ➔ Infinitive clause as purpose

  ➔ The infinitive "régler" (to settle/resolve) indicates the purpose or the goal of the action "trancher des gorges".

• J'vais remonter le Gange

  ➔ Futur proche (near future)

  ➔ The structure "aller" (conjugated) + infinitive "remonter" expresses an action that is going to happen in the near future.

• J'ai tout remis en question

  ➔ Passé composé

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "ai" + past participle "remis" is used to describe a completed action in the past.

• J'arriverai au large, j'donnerai le go

  ➔ Futur simple

  ➔ The suffix "-ai" attached to the verb base indicates a future action that is uncertain or distant compared to the "futur proche".

• quand y a assez d'écume

  ➔ Presentative construction 'Il y a'

  ➔ The contraction "y a" (from "il y a") is used informally to mean "there is" or "there exists".