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Translation
The Opportunist
I'm for communism
I'm for socialism
And for capitalism
Because I am an opportunist
There are those who contest
Who rebuke and who protest
I do but one thing
I flip-flop around1
I flip-flop around
Always to the right side
I'm not afraid of profiteers
Or even of agitators
I trust the electorate
And I profit from it to make my dough2
There are those who contest
Who rebuke and who protest
I do but one thing
I flip-flop around
I flip-flop around
Always to the right side
I'm of all sides
I'm of all the parties
I'm part of all the cliques
I am the king of the converts
There are those who contest
Who rebuke and who protest
I do but one thing
I flip-flop around
I flip-flop around
Always to the right side
I cry "live the revolution"
I cry "live the institutions"
I cry "live the protests"
I cry "live collaboration"
No, I never contest
Or rebuke or protest
I know how to do but one thing
That is to flip-flop around
To flip-flop around
Always to the right side
I've flipped my flops so many times3
That they're cracking all over
At the next revolution
I'll bring out my thong4
- 1. lit. "I turn my vest/jacket around", meaning "I change sides", with the connotations of "flip-flopping"
- 2. lit. "make my butter"
- 3. this verse relies especially on the clothing pun; I hope this works in translation
- 4. lit. "I'll turn my pants around", implication of "I'll show my ass"—thankfully, there's a word that works here!
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Indochine: Top 3
1. | J'ai demandé à la lune |
2. | Tes yeux noirs |
3. | La vie est belle |
Idioms from "L'opportuniste"
1. | Change sides |
2. | Flip-flop |
3. | make dough |
Comments
You can reprint my translations if you think they're any good; kindly credit them to Ana H., please.