This is a 1968 song from the French singer and songwriter Jacques Dutronc.
It was released in August, a few months after the French cultural revolution of May 1968. It satirises politicians who flip-flop their views depending on where the wind is blowing from.
“Je retourne ma veste” literally means “I turn my jacket around”, which translates in English as “Jumping on the bandwagon”
As a touch of humour, the song talks about the person who flip-flops so many times that his jacket is falling apart. And will have to turn his trousers inside out at the next revolution.
The satire of the political persona who switches sides to where the wind blows also highlights the personal gain motivation, the lack of strong ideological beliefs and the need to align oneself with whatever benefits the most in each situation.
A really up-to-date topic with our society of today, and not only with politicians.
Like many songs, there are idioms used for rhyme. Other than “Je retourne ma veste”, the song also uses the expression “Faire mon beurre”. This literally translates as to churn one’s own butter. It is used in the context of making substantial profits, usually by taking advantage of a specific situation or being clever and often greedy.
Je suis pour le communisme
Je suis pour le socialisme
Et pour le capitalisme
Parce que je suis opportuniste
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent
et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu’un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste,
Je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je n’ai pas peur des profiteurs
Ni même des agitateurs
Je fais confiance aux électeurs
Et j’en profite pour
faire mon beurre
Non, jamais je ne conteste
Ni revendique
ni ne proteste
Je ne sais faire qu’un seul geste
Celui de retourner ma veste,
de retourner ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je suis de tous les partis
Je suis de toutes les patries
Je suis de toutes les coteries
Je suis le roi des convertis
Il y en a qui contestent
Qui revendiquent et qui protestent
Moi je ne fais qu’un seul geste
Je retourne ma veste,
je retourne ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je crie vive la révolution
Je crie vive
les institutions
Je crie vive les manifestations
Je crie vive la collaboration
Non, jamais je ne conteste
Ni revendique
ni ne proteste
Je ne sais faire qu’un seul geste
Celui de retourner ma veste,
de retourner ma veste
Toujours du bon côté
Je l’ai tellement retournée
Qu’elle craque de tous côtés
À la prochaine révolution
Je retourne mon pantalon
I am all for communism,
I am all for socialism
and for capitalism
Because I am an opportunist.
There are those who challenge,
those who demand the rights
and those who protest.
Me, I only make one single move.
I jump on the bandwagon.
I flip-flop
Always to the best side.
I do not fear those who take advantage
nor the trouble-makers.
I trust the voters
and I take that opportunity
to line my pockets
No, I never challenge
nor demand the rights
Nor do I protest.
I can only make one move,
that of jumping on the bandwagon
the one where I flip-flop
But always to the right side.
I am for each party.
I am from all nations.
I am from all sides.
I am the king of converts.
There are some who challenge,
those who claim and protest.
I only make one move.
I jump on the bandwagon
I flip-flop
Always on the right side.
I shout Long live the revolution.
I shout Long live
the establishment.
I shout Long live the protests.
I shout Long live the Vichy Regime.
No, I never challenge
nor do I demand rights,
Nor do I protest.
I can only make one move,
That of jumping on the bandwagon
To flip-flop
But always to the best side.
I’ve been turning it so much,
that it is falling apart
See you at the next revolution,
where I will turn my trousers too
Between the French lyrics 
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