Ronde de nuit [English translation]

Deep inside the sleeping city

lie millions of submissive people.

Nobody left to yell at night

except the Marie bridge old tramp.

Nothing but hacks1 in the streets,

all the ruffians2 are behind bars.

It's all so quiet it smells of rot.

Paris will bore herself3 to death.

The baron who rules in the city hall

wants everyone to go to bed quietly.

Squealing beds are forbidden by law,

snoring is tolerated. Thanks guv'.

(Keep quiet, it's the night watch)

Come on, children of the motherland

The tyranny waged against us

that we are deluged with4

by this buffoon elected by dull jerks.

Paris is dying now

for surrendering to a gangster,

a bastard who stole

her sleepless nights.

Paris by night it's over.

Paris will bore herself to death.

Paris is dying, give her back

her sleepless nights.

(Keep quiet, it's the night watch)

It's the night watch...

1. prison guards2. "apaches" was the name of crooks and gangsters up until early 20th century. It is associated with a certain romantic view of the past, so it's a rather positive term in that context3. the city is likened to a woman4. these three lines are a parody of the French national anthem

• Artist:Mano Negra
• Album:Patchanka