Jacques Brel
Zangra lyrics with English translation
- Language
- French
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1961
- Genre
- Ballad, French Pop
- Length
- 3:20
Je m'appelle Zangra et je suis lieutenant
My name is Zangra and I am a lieutenant
Au fort de Belonzio qui domine la plaine
At the fort of Belonzio that overlooks the plain
D'où l'ennemi viendra qui me fera héros
From where the enemy will come to make me a hero
En attendant ce jour je m'ennuie quelquefois
In the meantime, sometimes I get bored
Alors je vais au bourg voir les filles en troupeaux
So I go to the village to see the girls in herds
Mais elles rêvent d'amour et moi de mes chevaux
But they dream of love and I of my horses
Je m'appelle Zangra et déjà capitaine
My name is Zangra and already a captain
Au fort de Belonzio qui domine la plaine
At the fort of Belonzio that overlooks the plain
D'où l'ennemi viendra qui me fera héros
From where the enemy will come to make me a hero
En attendant ce jour je m'ennuie quelquefois
In the meantime, sometimes I get bored
Alors je vais au bourg voir la jeune Consuelo
So I go to the village to see young Consuelo
Mais elle parle d'amour et moi de mes chevaux
But she talks of love while I speak of my horses
Je m'appelle Zangra maintenant commandant
I am called Zangra, now a commander
Au fort de Belonzio qui domine la plaine
At the fort of Belonzio that overlooks the plain
D'où l'ennemi viendra qui me fera héros
From where the enemy will come to make me a hero
En attendant ce jour je m'ennuie quelquefois
In the meantime, I get bored sometimes
Alors je vais au bourg boire avec Don Pedro
So I go to the village to drink with Don Pedro
Il boit à mes amours et moi à ses chevaux
He drinks to my loves and I to his horses
Je m'appelle Zangra je suis vieux colonel
I am called Zangra, I am an old colonel
Au fort de Belonzio qui domine la plaine
At the fort of Belonzio that overlooks the plain
D'où l'ennemi viendra qui me fera héros
From where will the enemy come who will make me a hero
En attendant ce jour je m'ennuie quelquefois
In the meantime, I sometimes grow bored
Alors je vais au bourg voir la veuve de Pedro
So I go to the town to see Pedro's widow
Je parle enfin d'amour mais elle de mes chevaux
I finally talk of love, but she speaks of my horses
Je m'appelle Zangra hier trop vieux général
My name is Zangra, yesterday too old a general
J'ai quitté Belonzio qui domine la plaine
I left Belonzio that overlooks the plain
Et l'ennemi est là, je ne serai pas héros
And the enemy is here, I will not be a hero
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Key vocabulary
- appelle
- calls
- zangra
- unknown
- fort
- strongA1
- belonzio
- unknown
- domine
- lordB1
- plaine
- plainB1
- ennemi
- enemy
- viendra
- will come
- fera
- will do
- héros
- heroB1
Test yourself
How much of Zangra did you catch?
A quick quiz on the key words from this song.
About this song
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer, songwriter, and actor associated with lyric-driven French-language chanson. He was known for theatrical vocal delivery and character-driven songs, and his work influenced artists such as David Bowie, Scott Walker, and Marc Almond.