"Merci et chapeau bas!"

En voyant les images de la révolution tunisienne et depuis quelques jours les images d'Egypte, malgré les morts et les incertitudes, c'est cette chanson de Barbara, pleine de gratitude pour le monde, qui tourne sans cesse dans ma tête. Alors, pour les peules tunisiens et égyptiens : "Merci et Chapeau bas!"
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As I keep seeing the pictures of the tunisian revolution and now the pictures from Egypt, in spite of the dead and the uncertainties, this song from French singer Barbara, full of gratitude towards the world, keeps ringing in my head. So, for the Tunisian and for the Egyptian people: "Thank you and hats off !"




(English translation: It may be the hand of God,/ It may be the hand of the Devil /Who wove the sky of this beautiful morning/ Planting in its heart / A piece of sun/ Who breaks on water/In thousand vermeil glitters?

Is it the hand of God/ Is it the hand of Devil / Who put on the sea / This strange sailing ship/ Who, similar with the snake/ Seem to unfold itself/Black and white, on blue water/ That the wind makes dance?

Is it God, is it the Devil/ Or both at the same time / Who, for one day, uniting / Made this morning?/ Is this former, is it the latter?/ Actually, I do not know/
But, for so much of beauty,
Thank you, and hats off !

Is it the hand of God/ Is it the hand of Devil /Who put this rose /In the garden here /For which burning love, For which noble lady / This velvet rose /In the garden here? / And these burst plums/ And all these white lilacs/ And these red currents, / And this laughter of children,/ And so beautiful Christine Under her white skirt, / With, with right in the middle/ The shine of her twenty years?

Is it God, is it the Devil/ Or both at the same time / Who, for one day, uniting / Made this spring?/ Is this former, is it the latter?/ Actually, I do not know/
But, for so much of beauty,
Thank you, and hats off !

The sailing ship which flees, /The rose here,/ And these flowers and these fruits, / And our tears of joy…/ Who could offer to us /All these beauties? / Let ‘s pick them without any word./ Hey, it is for you and me.

Is it the hand of God/ and that of the Malevolent/ That for one day uniting/ Crossed our way? / Is this former, is it the latter?/ Actually, I do not know/
But, for so much of beauty,
Thank you, and hats off !
But for you and me
Thank you, and hats off! …