Aux Arbres Citoyens Lyrics in English Yannick Noah

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Aux Arbres Citoyens by Yannick Noah from French to English.
The cement in the plains
Flows to the mountains
Poison in the fountains
In our countryside
From cyclones to gusts
Our story is taking on water
Only our ideal remains
'Looking good'
Buying air in bars
Filling the balance
A few petrodollars
Against existence
From the equator to the poles
This weight on our shoulders
Of ephemeral squatters
Now it's not as fun
Since we have to change things
To the citizen trees!
It's high time we propose
A world for tomorrow!
To the citizen trees
A few slaps to take
Yesterday is for tomorrow
Slaps to give
Keeping upright
An army of reeds
No one on their knees
Spread the word
It's true the earth is round
But who will come tell us
That it's the same for everyone
And for those to come
Since we have to change things
To the citizen trees!
It's high time we propose
A world for tomorrow!
No more time to know
Whose fault it is
To rely on luck or others
Now we fight
With you, I believe in it
Since we have to change things
To the citizen trees!
It's high time we propose
A world for tomorrow!
With you, I believe in it
Since we have to change things
To the citizen trees!
It's high time we propose
A world for tomorrow!
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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SONG MEANING

Imagine trading battle cries for a forest of raised fists made of branches. That is the spirit of “Aux Arbres Citoyens,” where Yannick Noah flips the French Revolution’s slogan “Aux armes, citoyens” into a green call to action. He paints a vivid picture of a planet drowning in concrete, poisoned fountains, and cyclones that rewrite our history books. The song shouts that buying “air in cans” with petrodollars is absurd, and that humans are only temporary squatters on Earth. With catchy rhythms and sharp images, Noah rallies everyone to stand tall like an “army of reeds,” ready to protect the only home we have.

The chorus is a megaphone urging immediate change: “Aux arbres, citoyens ! Il est grand temps qu’on propose un monde pour demain !” No more pointing fingers, no more waiting for luck. Side by side, the singer believes we can build a fairer, cleaner future. The track blends optimism with urgency, turning eco-anxiety into collective empowerment. By the end, you feel ready to swap excuses for seeds and march toward a tomorrow where every voice—and every tree—counts.

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