Le Diable et le Fermier

-English translation of lyrics are now available below! -
Le diable et le fermier : Chanson-billet contre l'exploration aveugle des gaz de schiste.
Un regroupement d'artistes et d'artisans qui joignent leurs voix à celles des milliers de citoyens et d'organisations pour réclamer un moratoire sur l'exploitation des gaz de schiste au Québec.
Avec Les Charbonniers de l'Enfer, Galant tu perds ton temps et Le Vent du Nord.
Paroles et musique / Lyrics & music : Nicolas Boulerice
Réalisation du vidéoclip : JF Dugas
Prise de son : Mark Busic, Studio Chemin 4

The Devil and the Farmer

This is the story about an evil spirit who promised a farmer he could keep his soul if they shared his harvest.
The devil chose to keep what would remain above the ground in autumn.
The farmer planted potatoes and carrots and parsnips and turnips, and the devil was left empty-handed.
"Next year," he said, "you keep what grows above ground."
So the farmer planted tomatoes and zucchinis and melons and peas.
Tricked again, the devil decided to harvest the underground, to empty the soil of its water, iron and oil, leaving only mud and poison gas leaks in the fields, forcing the farmer to boil water for his children to drink.

In the end, who won, who lost? Who, his precious energy? Who, his wager?

LE DIABLE ET LE FERMIER
C'est l'histoire d'un diable, sortant tout droit des flammes
Promettant au fermier de lui laisser son âme
S'ils partageaient ensemble les fruits de la moisson
À chacun sa moitié c'est une obligation

Le diable choisit pour que l'entente soit bonne
De garder ce qu'il reste sur la terre à l'automne
Le fermier accepta et planta des panais
Des patates des carottes véritables navets

Oh oh oh qui cèderait pour un rien?
Oh oh oh les richesses de sa terre
Oh oh oh du diable ou de l'homme
Oh oh oh à qui la bonne affaire?

Quand arriva le temps d'échanger le butin
Le diable en maudit ne lui restait plus rien
Dit alors au fermier « pour changer l'an prochain
Prenez donc à vot' tour, c'qui pousse sur le terrain »

Le fermier accepta et planta cette fois
Des tomates des courgettes des melons et des pois
Le diable aux récoltes rapaillant le néant
Retourna vers Satan, le fermier triomphant

Oh oh oh qui jouerait son avenir?
Oh oh oh sans connaitre le marché
Oh oh oh qui voudrait fractionner?
Oh oh oh la terre dessous ses pieds

Le diable revint respectant sa parole
De l'eau du gaz du fer, il viderait le sol
Alors à la surface qu'allait-il bien pousser?
L'eau souillée et les fuites de gaz empoisonné?

Les ressources dépouillées, il s'était enrichi
Laissant que du béton le diable repartit
La terre fragilisée comme ce Québécois
Condamné à bouillir l'eau que son enfant boit

Oh oh oh mais au bout de l'histoire
Oh oh oh qui donc aura perdu?
Oh oh oh ses précieuses énergies,
Oh oh oh les enjeux du pari

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
The Devil and the Farmer Lyrics and music Nicolas Boulerice Vignette against the reckless mining of shale gas in the Québec subsoil
This is the story of a devil straight out of the flames
Who promised the farmer he would spare his soul
If they shared the fruits of the land
To each his half, the bargain was struck

To sweeten the deal the devil chose
To keep what remained on the ground in the fall
The farmer agreed and planted parsnips
Potatoes and carrots and turnips

Oh oh oh who would give away for nothing?
Oh oh oh the bounties of his land
Oh oh oh the devil or the man
Oh oh oh who made a better deal?

When the time came to share the wealth
The devil, furious to find himself empty-handed
Told the farmer "For a change, next year
It will be your turn to harvest above ground"

The farmer agreed and this time planted
Tomatoes and squash and melons and peas
Then came the harvest, the devil reaping nothing
Returned to Satan as the farmer triumphed

Oh oh oh who would gamble his future?
Oh oh oh without knowing the stakes
Oh oh oh who would want to fracture?
Oh oh oh the earth beneath his feet

The devil returned, true to his word
He would drain the land of water, iron and gas
What, then, would grow on the land?
Tainted water and poisonous gas leaks?

Resources depleted, the devil became rich
And went away leaving only concrete
The earth shattered like this Québécois
Condemned to boil the water for his child to drink

Oh oh oh but in the end
Oh oh oh who has lost?
Oh oh oh his land and his livelihood
Oh oh oh the true stake of the bet