This 1965 song from the french singer from Toulouse, Claude Nougaro is not only a tribute to Louis Armstrong. But also an exploration of race, identity and human equality. Looking at racial injustice, suffering, and ultimately mortality as the great equaliser
Some of the lyrics are a play on words and made to rhyme:
“Moi, je broie plutôt du noir (I am grinding black)
Du noir en dedans” (Black within myself)
This can only be translated in English as feeling blue, (broie du noir) and inner darkness (du noir en dedans)
Blues music was initially known as “African-American music,” but it has since had a universally influential impact on modern music across all cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Music brings us together and can serve as an equaliser across races and cultures.
And by using the music of “Go down Moses”, an ode to the liberation of black slavery in the USA; and referencing Louis Armstrong’s broad smile, he reinforces the idea of resilience and hope and uses it as a reminder to use music as a tool for spiritual search of freedom and joy.
“Armstrong, tu te fends la poire (Armstrong, you split your pear)
On voit toutes tes dents” (We can see all your teeth)
Se fendre la poire is a French idiom to “laugh one’s head off”
The song also highlights the transient nature of racial identity and the futility of appearances and refuses to make skin colour an sign of his personality:
“Armstrong, un jour, tôt ou tard (Armstrong, one day, sooner or later)
On n’est que des os (We will only be bones)
Est-ce que les tiens seront noirs? (Will yours be black)
Ce serait rigolo” (That would be funny)
“Au-delà de nos oripeaux (Beyond our skin)
Noir et blanc (Black and white)
Sont ressemblants (Look the same)
Comme deux gouttes d’eau” (Like two drops of water)
Armstrong, je ne suis pas noir
Je suis blanc de peau
Quand on veut chanter l’espoir
Quel manque de pot
Oui, j’ai beau voir le ciel
L’oiseau
Rien, rien, rien ne luit là-haut
Les anges, zéro
Je suis blanc de peau
Armstrong, tu te fends la poire
On voit toutes tes dents
Moi, je broie plutôt du noir
Du noir en dedans
Chante pour moi, Louis
Oh oui
Chante, chante, chante
Ça tient chaud
J’ai froid, oh moi
Qui suis blanc de peau
(Yeah man, okay)
Armstrong, la vie, quelle histoire?
C’est pas très marrant
Qu’on l’écrive blanc sur noir
Ou bien noir sur blanc
On voit surtout du rouge
Du rouge
Sang, sang
Sans trêve ni repos
Qu’on soit, ma foi
Noir ou blanc de peau
Armstrong, un jour, tôt ou tard
On n’est que des os
Est-ce que les tiens seront noirs?
Ce serait rigolo
Allez Louis, alléluia
Au-delà de nos oripeaux
Noir et blanc
Sont ressemblants
Comme deux gouttes d’eau
Yeah
Armstrong, I am not black,
I have white skin.
When we want to sing hope,
what tough luck
Yet I can see the sky.
The bird,
nothing, nothing, nothing shines up there.
The angels; zero,
I have white skin
Armstrong, you are laughing your head off.
We can see all your teeth.
I’m a dark person.
dark inside.
Sing for me. Louis.
Oh yes,
sings sings sings.
It keeps me warm.
I’m cold.; Oh me
who is white.
Armstrong; life… What a story!
It’s not very funny
to write it white on black
or black on white.
We see mostly red
red
blood, blood
without truce or rest
whether we are
black or white
Armstrong one day, sooner or later,
we will just be bones
Will yours be black?
That would be fun.
Come on Louis! Hallelujah
Beyond our rags
black and white
are similar
like two drops of water
Between the French lyrics 
Leave a comment