Yves Montand - Druon/Poll - The galley slave

Original Title: "Le Galérien"
Text: Maurice Druon
Music: Léo Poll
Year: 1942

I remember, my mom loved me
and I'm in the galleys
I remember my mom said
But I didn't believe my mother

Don't roam in the gutters
Don't fight like a savage
Don't have fun like the birds
She told me to behave
I didn't kill, I didn't steal
I wanted to try my luck
I didn't kill, I didn't steal
I wanted everyday to be sunday

I remember my mom cried
As soon as I was crossing the door
I remember how she cried
She didn't want me to go out

Always, always she said
Don't go to see girls
Don't always do what you want
In prisons, there are bars
I didn't kill, I didn't steal
But I believed Madeleine
I didn't kill, I didn't steal
I didn't want to make her sad

One day the King's soldiers
Will take you to the galleys
You'll go away three by three
Like they took away your father
You will have the head shaved
They will put you in chains
You will have the back broken
And I will die from sorrow

I didn't kill, I didn't steal
But I didn't believe my mother
I remember that she loved me
While I'm rowing in the galleys