Well today is June 19th, or Juneteenth, the day that celebrates the end of slavery in US. It commemorates June 19th, 1865, the day that Union army general Gordon Granger read the federal orders in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming that all slaves in Texas were now free, more than two years after the emancipation proclamation was signed. So in keeping with the day I figured this Cabrel song about slavery was fitting.

“Cent ans de plus” is a song by French singer/songwriter Francis Cabrel. It appears on his 1999 album Hors Saison. While the album was certified diamond in France, this single did not chart.

About the Artist

Francis Cabrel is a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Agen in the southwest of France. When he was thirteen his uncle gave him a guitar for Christmas and he began playing Neil Young, Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, and learning English by translating the lyrics. When he was seventeen he began putting together various folk rock groups, though none of them lasted long, and at nineteen he played locally with the group Ray Frank et les Jazzmen (Ray Frank and the Jazzmen), who were later renamed les Gaulois (The Gauls). In June of 1974 he entered a Sud Radio contest wth the song “Petite Marie”, which was dedicated to his wife Mariette. He won the context ans was signed with the French record label CBS. His second album Les chemins de traverse and the single “Je l’aime à mourir” solidified his success. All of his studio albums have been certified platinum or diamond, and he has sold more than 25 million copies of his albums. He is considered one the most influential French musicians of all time.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘dans la peau de (quelqu’un)’ – Literally translating as ‘in (someone’s) skin’, this phrase means ‘in (someone’s) shoes’ or ‘in (someone’s) place’.

‘le dimache’ – In French when ‘le’ proceeds the name of a day it means the same as ‘on’ day name. For example ‘le dimanche’ means ‘on Sundays’.

‘il faut’ – The verb ‘falloir’ is an interesting one, as it is only ever used in the third person singular. It conveys a necessity, or something that has to happen. It will be followed by an infinitive or the subjunctive tense. For example ‘il faut que j’aille’ (I have to go).

‘déporter’ – This verb often translates as ‘to deport’ or ‘to exile’, but there is another meaning that I personally think is better here. It can also mean ‘to intern’ or ‘to imprison’. For example ‘Les soviétiques déportèrent leurs opposants en Sibérie’ (The Soviets interned their opponents in Siberia).

‘peuple’ – This term means ‘people’. While the English equivalent is plural, the French term is singular. ‘Le peuple vote’ (people vote). ‘Vote’ is correct here, not ‘votent’.

‘ancien’ – While most adjectives in French follow the noun there are a few that proceed it. Then there are some that can either follow or proceed the noun, but have different meanings depending on their placement. ‘Ancien’ is of the third type. When it follows the verb it means ‘old’, ‘ancient’or antique. When it proceeds the noun it means ‘former’. So ‘mon professeur ancien’ means ‘my elderly professor’ and ‘mon ancien professeur’ means ‘my former professor’.

Blues Musicians

There are several blues musicians who are referenced in this song. They are:

Son House – Eddie James “Son” House, Jr. was an American delta blues singer and guitarist, noted for his highly emotional style of singing and slide guitar playing.

Charlie Patton – Charley Patton (also known as Charlie Patton), was an American Delta blues musician. He was considered by many to be the “Father of the Delta Blues”, and inspired most Delta blues musicians.

Howlin’ Wolf – Chester Arthur Burnett, known as Howlin’ Wolf, was a Chicago blues singer, guitarist, and harmonica player. Originally from Mississippi, he moved to Chicago in adulthood and became one of the best-known Chicago blues artists.

Blind Lemon – Lemon Henry “Blind Lemon” Jefferson was an American blues and gospel singer-songwriter and musician. He was one of the most popular blues singers of the 1920s and has been called the “Father of the Texas Blues”.

Blind Blake – Arthur Blake, known as Blind Blake, was an American blues and ragtime singer and guitarist. He is known for numerous recordings he made for Paramount Records between 1926 and 1932.

Willie Dixon – William James Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He played both the upright bass and the guitar. He is known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time and one of the most influential people in shaping the post–World War II sound of the Chicago blues.

“Ma” Rainey – Gertrude Pridgett, known as “Ma” Rainey, was one of the earliest African-American professional blues singers and one of the first generation of blues singers to record. She was called the “Mother of the Blues”.

Robert Johnson – Robert Leroy Johnson was an American blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is now recognized as a master of the blues, particularly the Delta blues style.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Centcentone hundred | adj ansanyear | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep plusplusmore | adv

[Verse 1]
Centcentone hundred | adj ansanyear | noun | masc sing dansdansin | prep | | dans la peau de (qqn) = in (s.o.'s) shoes/place lalathe | def art | fem sing peaupeauskin | noun | fem sing | dans la peau de (qqn) = in (s.o.'s) shoes/place dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsesclaveesclaveslave | noun | masc and fem sing
Et,etand | conj justejustejust; accurate, correct; fair, right; tight; close-fitting | adj | masc and fem sing | juste après = just after, right after après,aprèsafter, afterwards | prep | | juste après = just after, right after centcentone hundred | adj ansanyear | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep plusplusmore | adv
Chercherchercherto look for, search for | verb | infin desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl miettesmiettecrumb, breadcrumb | noun | fem pl soussousunder, underneath | prep leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl tablestabletable | noun | fem pl
Avantavantbefore | prep | avant que = before quequethat, than | conj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl Blancsblancwhite; white (person), Caucasian | noun | masc pl nenenot, no | adv | used with another negative term, such as 'ne … pas' marchentmarcherto walk | verb | third pers pl pres dessusdessuson it/them | adv
Dormirdormirto sleep | verb | infin sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl paquetspaquetpacket, pack, package, bag | noun | masc pl dedeof; from | prep planchesplancheplank, board | noun | fem pl
Chanterchanterto sing | verb | infin seulementseulementonly | adv lelethe | def art | masc sing dimanchedimancheSunday | noun | masc sing
Tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform voisvoirto see, watch | verb | sec pers sing pres lalathe | def art | fem sing femmefemmewoman | noun | fem sing noireblackadj | fem sing
Dansdansin | prep lelethe | def art | masc sing rôlerôlerole, part; job | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing bonnebonneservant, maid, domestic help | noun | fem sing
Avec,avecwith | prep touttoutall, entirely, very | adv | | tout à côté = right next to, very close to, near ààat, to, in | prep côtécôtéside; direction, way | noun | masc sing | tout à côté = right next to, very close to, near
Touttoutall, entirely, very | adv tordu,tordutwisted, warped | adj | masc sing sonsonsound | noun | masc sing bonhommebonhomme, man; guynoun | masc sing
Aprèsaprèsafter, afterwards | prep ça,çathis, that, it | pron fautfalloirto need, have to, must | verb | third pers sing pres | only used in third pers sing pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech quequethat, than | conj tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsétonnesétonnerto surprise, amaze, astonish | verb | sec pers sing subj | s'étonner = be surprised, astonished, amazed

[Chorus]
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres euxeuxthem | pron | third pers pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel ontavoirto have | verb | third pers pl pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | pp
Euxeuxthem | pron | third pers pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel ontavoirto have | verb | third pers pl pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | pp
Son HouseSon HouseSon House | Prop Noun | musician name etetand | conj Charlie PattonCharlie PattonCharlie Patton | prop noun | musician name
Howlin’WolfHowlin'WolfHowlin'Wolf | prop noun | musician name etetand | conj Blind LemonBlind LemonBlind Lemon | prop noun | musician name

[Verse 2]
Bienbienwell; a lot; good, fine | adv rougeredadj | masc and fem sing lelethe | def art | masc sing sangsangblood | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsAfriqueAfriqueAfrica | noun | fem sing
Sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing joliejolipretty, lovely, attractive | adj | fem sing fleurfleurflower | noun | fem sing dude + lefrom, of the | prep + art cotoncotoncotton | noun | masc sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing toutetoutall | adj | fem sing nouvellenouveaunew; modern; latest | adj | fem sing AmériqueAmériqueAmerica | noun | fem sing
Lalathe | def art | fem sing bellebeaubeautiful, attractive, handsome; pleasant; good, excellent | adj | fem sing démocratiedémocratiedemocracy | noun | fem sing « Welcome ! »welcomewelcome | interj | EN term
Bateauxbateauboat | noun | masc pl déportantdéporterto deport, excile; imprison; swerve, drift | verb | third pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl villagesvillagevillage | noun | masc pl
Auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing | au bout de = at the end of boutboutend, extremity, tip; bit, piece | noun | masc sing | au bout de = at the end of dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsimmenseimmenseimmense, vast, huge; enormous | adj | masc and fem sing voyagevoyagetrip, journey | noun | masc sing
Gravégravercarve, engrave, etch; burn (CD) | verb | pp used as adj dansdansin | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing mémoiremémoirememory | noun | fem sing
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or prons desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl années-lumièreannée-lumièrelight year | noun | fem pl
Chaquechaqueeach, every | adj larmelarmetear | noun | fem sing d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsivoireivoireivory | noun | masc sing
Chaquechaqueeach, every | adj colliercolliernecklace; collar, yoke | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep ferferiron | noun | masc sing
Aprèsaprèsafter, afterwards | prep ça,çathis, that, it | pron fautfalloirto need, have to, must | verb | third pers sing pres | only used in third pers sing pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech quequethat, than | conj tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsétonnesétonnerto surprise, amaze, astonish | verb | sec pers sing subj | s'étonner = be surprised, astonished, amazed

[Chorus]
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres euxeuxthem | pron | third pers pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel ontavoirto have | verb | third pers pl pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | pp
Euxeuxthem | pron | third pers pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel ontavoirto have | verb | third pers pl pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | pp
Son HouseSon HouseSon House | Prop Noun | musician name etetand | conj Charlie PattonCharlie PattonCharlie Patton | prop noun | musician name
Howlin’WolfHowlin'WolfHowlin'Wolf | prop noun | musician name etetand | conj Blind LemonBlind LemonBlind Lemon | prop noun | musician name

[Verse 3]
Toujourstoujoursalways | adv plaireplaire àto please, delight; appeal to; entice, tempt | verb | infin auxà + lesat the, to the | prep + def art | masc and fem pl marchandsmarchandmerchat, trader, seller; shopkeeper | noun | masc pl dedeof; from | prep fantômesfantômeghost, phantom | noun | masc pl
Elleelleshe, her, it | pron | third pers sing qu’quethat, than | conjononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' achèteacheterto buy | verb | third pers sing pres etetand | conj luiluihim, her, to him/her | pron | third pers sing quequethat, than | conj l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' donnedonnerto give | verb | first pers sing pres
Naîtrenaîtrebe born; emerge, appear; result | verb | infin avecavecwith | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing peinepeinesorrow, grief, pain; effort, exertion; difficulty, trouble; punishment | noun | fem sing maximummaximummaximum | adj | masc and fem sing
Toujourstoujoursalways | adv vivantvivantliving, alive; lively, spirited, full of life | adj | masc sing dansdansin | prep cecethis, that | dem adj | masc sing | ce que = what, how quequethat, than | conj nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl sommesêtreto be | verb | first pers pl pres
Peuplepeuplepeople, population | noun | masc sing interditinterditforbidden, prohibited, banned | adj | masc sing dude + lefrom, of the | prep + art resteresterest, remainder | noun | masc sing desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl hommeshommeman; human beings, humanity, mankind | noun | masc pl
Cherchantchercherto look for, search for | verb | ger lelethe | def art | masc sing bleubleublue | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsancienancienformer; old, ancient, antique | adj | masc sing royaumeroyaumekingdom. realm | noun | masc sing
Euxeuxthem | pron | third pers pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel ontavoirto have | verb | third pers pl pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | third pers sing pres fautfalloirto need, have to, must | verb | third pers sing pres | only used in third pers sing pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech quequethat, than | conj çaçathis, that, it | pron t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsétonneétonnerto surprise, amaze, astonish | verb | third pers sing pres
Son HouseSon HouseSon House | Prop Noun | musician name etetand | conj Charlie PattonCharlie PattonCharlie Patton | prop noun | musician name
Blind BlakeBlind BlakeBlind Blake | prop noun | musician name etetand | conj Willie DixonWillie DixonWillie Dixon | prop noun | musician name
Ma RaineyMa RaineyMa Rainey | prop noun | musician name etetand | conj Robert JohnsonRobert JohnsonRobert Johnson | prop noun | musician name
Howlin’WolfHowlin'WolfHowlin'Wolf | prop noun | musician name etetand | conj Blind LemonBlind LemonBlind Lemon | prop noun | musician name
Son HouseSon HouseSon House | Prop Noun | musician name etetand | conj Charlie PattonCharlie PattonCharlie Patton | prop noun | musician name

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Cent ans de plus
One hundred more years

[Verse 1]
Cent ans dans la peau de l’esclave
One hundred years in the shoes of a slave
Et, juste après, cent ans de plus
And right after a hundred more years
Chercher des miettes sous les tables
Looking for crumbs under the tables
Avant que les Blancs ne marchent dessus
Before the Whites walk on them
Dormir sur des paquets de planches
Sleeping on packages of boards
Chanter seulement le dimanche
Singing only on Sunday
Tu vois la femme noire
You see the black woman
Dans le rôle de la bonne
In the role of the servant
Avec, tout à côté
And just next to her
Tout tordu, son bonhomme
All bent and broken, her man (husband)
Après ça, faut pas que tu t’étonnes
After that, you shouldn’t be surprised

[Chorus]
C’est eux qui ont fait
It’s those who did (it)
Eux qui ont fait
Those who did (it)
Son House et Charlie Patton
Son House and Charlie Patton
Howlin’Wolf et Blind Lemon
Howlin’Wolf and Blind Lemon

[Verse 2]
Bien rouge, le sang de l’Afrique
Quite red, the blood of Africa
Sur la jolie fleur du coton
On the pretty cotton flower
La toute nouvelle Amérique
The all new America
La belle démocratie « Welcome ! »
The wonderful democracy “Welcome!”
Bateaux déportant les villages
Boats imprisoning villages
Au bout de l’immense voyage
At the end of the immense journey
Gravé dans la mémoire
Etched into memory
Pour des années-lumière
For light years
Chaque larme d’ivoire
Every ivory tear
Chaque collier de fer
Every iron collar
Après ça, faut pas que tu t’étonnes
After that, you shouldn’t be surprised

[Chorus]
C’est eux qui ont fait
It’s those who did (it)
Eux qui ont fait
Those who did (it)
Son House et Charlie Patton
Son House and Charlie Patton
Howlin’Wolf et Blind Lemon
Howlin’Wolf and Blind Lemon

[Verse 3]
Toujours plaire aux marchands de fantômes
Always pleasing the merchants of ghosts
Elle qu’on achète et lui que l’on donne
She who is bought and he who is given
Naître avec la peine maximum
Born with the maximum sentence (life sentence)
Toujours vivant dans ce que nous sommes
Always living in what we are
Peuple interdit du reste des hommes
People forbidden from the rest of humanity
Cherchant le bleu de l’ancien royaume
Looking for the blue of the ancient kingdom
Eux qui ont fait, faut pas que ça t’étonne
Those who did (it), you shouldn’t be surprised
Son House et Charlie Patton
Son House and Charlie Patton
Blind Blake et Willie Dixon
Blind Blake and Willie Dixon
Ma Rainey et Robert Johnson
Ma Rainey and Robert Johnson
Howlin’Wolf et Blind Lemon
Howlin’ Wolf and Blind Lemon
Son House et Charlie Patton
Son House and Charlie Patton