Bienvenue au Bistro du Petit Francophone, where we explore French through beautiful music and meaningful conversations.
Le Menu du Jour (Today’s Special)
Today we are raising our glasses with Stromae, Belgium's master storyteller who transforms everyday observations into profound social commentary. His song "Santé" (Cheers) is a toast to those who make celebrations possible but rarely get to enjoy them themselves.
Dégustation (The Tasting)
Before diving into the lyrics, listen to the song. Notice the contrast: upbeat, party-like music paired with lyrics about those left out of the party. This tension is classic Stromae, making you dance while making you think.
Les Saveurs (The Flavors)
Santé! = Cheers! (literally "health")
Lever son verre = to raise one's glass
Célébrer = to celebrate
Les pires horaires = the worst schedules
Peines de cœur = heartbreak
Avoir le cœur à = to feel like
Insomniaques de profession = people whose jobs keep them awake
Ceux qui = those who
Qui n'ont pas = who don’t have
• "J'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas"
I'd like to raise my glass to those who don't have one
• "Rosa, quand on fout le bordel, tu nettoies"
Rosa, when we make a mess, you clean it up .
Foutre le bordel is casual slang for "making a mess".
• "Pilotes d'avion ou infirmières... Un verre aux champions des pires horaires"
Pilots or nurses... A glass to the champions of the worst schedules
Lyrics with English Translation
Santé
À ceux qui n'en ont pas
To those who don’t have any
À ceux qui n'en ont pas
To those who don’t have any
Rosa, Rosa
Rosa, Rosa
Quand on fout le bordel, tu nettoies
When we make a mess, you clean it up
Et toi, Albert
And you, Albert
Quand on trinque, tu ramasses les verres
When we drink, you pick up the glasses
Céline, bataire
Céline, cloakroom worker
Toi tu t'prends des vestes au vestiaire
You get the coats thrown at you in the cloakroom
Arlette, arrête
Arlette, stop
Toi la fête tu la passes aux toilettes
You spend the party in the bathroom
Et si on célébrait ceux qui ne célèbrent pas?
And what if we celebrated those who don’t get to celebrate?
Pour une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas
For once, I would like to raise my glass to those who don’t have one
À ceux qui n'en ont pas
To those who don’t have any
Quoi les bonnes manières?
What, good manners?
Pourquoi j'f'rais semblant? D'toute façon elle est payée pour le faire
Why would I pretend? Anyway, she is paid to do it
Tu t'prends pour ma mère? Dans une heure j'reviens,
Do you think you’re my mother? I’ll be back in an hour
Qu'ce soit propre, qu'on puisse y manger par terre
Make sure it’s clean, so we could eat off the floor
Trois heures que j'attends, franchement
I’ve been waiting three hours, honestly
Il les fabrique ou quoi?
Does he make them himself or what?
Heureusement qu'c'est que deux verres
Good thing it’s only two glasses
Appelle-moi ton responsable
Call your manager
Et fais vite, elle pourrait se finir comme ça ta carrière
And hurry, your career could end just like that
Oui, célébrons ceux qui ne célèbrent pas
Yes, let’s celebrate those who don’t get to celebrate
Encore une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas
Once again, I would like to raise my glass to those who don’t have one
À ceux qui n'en ont pas
To those who don’t have any
À ceux qui n'en ont pas
To those who don’t have any
Frotter, frotter
Scrub, scrub
Mieux vaut ne pas s'y
Better not get involved
Frotter, frotter
Scrub, scrub
Si tu n'me connais pas
If you don’t know me
Brosser, brosser
Brush, brush
Tu pourras toujours te Brosser, brosser
Forget it, you’ll never get it
Si tu ne me respectes pas
If you don’t respect me
Oui, célébrons ceux qui n'célèbrent pas
Yes, let’s celebrate those who don’t celebrate
Encore une fois, j'aimerais lever mon verre à ceux qui n'en ont pas
Once again, I would like to raise my glass to those who don’t have one
À ceux qui n'en ont pas
To those who don’t have any
Pilotes d'avion ou infirmières
Airline pilots or nurses
Chauffeurs de camion, hôtesses de l'air
Truck drivers, flight attendants
Boulangers ou marins-pêcheurs
Bakers or fishermen
Un verre aux champions des pires horaires
A glass to the champions of the worst shifts
Aux jeunes parents bercés par les pleurs
To young parents rocked to sleep by cries
Aux insomniaques de profession
To professional insomniacs
Et tous ceux qui souffrent de peines de cœur
And all those who suffer from heartbreak
Qui n'ont pas le cœur aux célébrations
Who don’t have the heart for celebrations
Qui n'ont pas l'cœur aux célébrations
Who don’t have the heart for celebrations
La Note (The Bill)
"Santé" taps into something deeply human and universal: the invisible labor that keeps our world running. Every culture has its Rosa cleaning up after the party, its Albert collecting glasses, its night shift workers missing family dinners.
Stromae gives voice to people often rendered invisible in our celebrations, reminding us that gratitude is the simplest, yet most powerful, toast we can offer.
Merci for joining me at the Bistro du Petit Francophone. Today, let’s raise our glasses with gratitude to the Rosas, Alberts, and countless unseen workers in our lives.
Who would you toast today? Leave a comment below so we can celebrate them with you.
Santé, with gratitude!
Marie M.🌹
Petit Francophone – French for kids and their grown-ups