Mister Lee comes back from war
His tunic full of earth
And his big broken sword
In his hand.
He would have been able to disappear
In plantations perhaps
Or become a gold-digger
With his cousin of the big north.
But
Mister Lee comes back from war
His tunic full of earth
To see the alligator again
Of Eluard called Nestor.
He fell both from a hail of bullets
And a cut on the belly
Watch his entrails in the sun
Watch his entrails in the sun
In the big smelly marsh
He floats slowly and quiet
Four legs skyward
Four legs skyward.
Mister Lee comes back from war
His tunic full of earth
And his big broken sword
In his hand.
What war could not be made
Nestor has just made him
The first tear flowed
On the cheeks of Mister Lee.
Monsieur Lee revient de guerre
Sa tunique pleine de terre
Et sa grande épée brisée
A la main.
Il aurait pu disparaître
Dans les plantations peut-être
Ou devenir chercheur d'or
Avec son cousin du grand nord.
Monsieur Lee revient de guerre
Sa tunique pleine de terre
Pour revoir l'alligator
De l'Eluard appelé Nestor.
Il est tombé tant de mitraille
Que sur son ventre une entaille
Montre au soleil ses entrailles
Montre au soleil ses entrailles
Dans le grand marais fétide
Il flotte doucement et tranquille
Les quatre pattes vers le ciel
Les quatre pattes vers le ciel.
Monsieur Lee revient de guerre
Sa tunique pleine de terre
Et sa grande épée brisée
A la main.
Ce que la guerre n'a pu faire
Nestor seul vient de le faire
La première larme a jailli
Sur les joues de Monsieur Lee.