Le petit commerce [English translation]

My attempts to sell in Mouron didn't work

I sold ties to folks who were broke,

I sold scissors and razors,

Corozo Combs to limes and shredders,

I tried selling strawberries, I tried Lily of the Valley,

I reseated chairs and repaired bidets,

I hauled my cart along the wrong streets,

I was going to lose my mind until I found out one day...

Now I ride my Cadillac down the streets of Paris,

Since then I understood the meaning of life,

I own a small hotel, with three maids and a chauffeur,

And the cops salute me as one of their own,

I sell guns, short-and-long

Big-and-small, I have 'em in all prices

There are always hobbyists for these delicate instruments,

I'm a gun dealer, come and let your children visit me,

Guns for sale!

With your scrap metal we forge these machines,

That'll make a mess of your neighbor

It'll give work to all kinds of workers,

And every worker wishes to start a family,

They want to make money for the kids.

Which even provides insurance and benefits,

It doesn't matter, either way, when they grow up,

They'll die after walking in rhythm, all for a couple of francs. 1

I sold guns across all streets on Earth,

But now I'm going bankrupt,

I've created businesses for gravediggers and funeral parlors, 2

But now I've found myself tripping on my own feet. 3

All of my clients have died singing,

And I'm alone in the world, carefree,

On old streetcorners, my heart filled with joy, my feet light,

I dance the Carmagnola, there's no one else on this pavement,

Guns for half-off!

1. And another thing with firearms development is countries want to arm millions. Cheap, inexpensive weapons are quicker to make and cost next to nothing. Take the British Sten Gun, it's just a pipe that shoots bullets and they costed $130 in today's money. The French MAT-49 submachinegun would've costed a similar number (though I cannot find any sources listing the price).2. Lynch me, I dare you.3. Can a native speaker help with this line?

• Artist:Boris Vian