[Orelsan - La Quête/ English Translation]

[Verse 1]
Nothing can bring me more back than the smell of modeling clay
Mom is a teacher in preschool, she teaches nearby
I’m 5 and I climb out the window to hide in her classroom
She says “You’re not supposed to be here”, I tell her “My place is near you”
I only love books, I prefer to be alone, so I’m happier when it’s raining
I’m taking religious classes though I’m not sure to believe in God
I’m 7, life is easy, when I don’t know I ask my mother
One day she says “I don’t know everything”, I lost faith in the Universe

[Chorus 1]
When I was 5, I just wanted to be 7
When I was 7, I couldn’t wait to see what was next
Today, I’d prefer if time could stop
Ah, it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the quest

[Verse 2]
I sweep the dead leaf out of the basketball court, the cold hurts my hands
I’m 10, I’m a basketball fan, I’m wearing American clothes
My father, my hero, gifted me the Jordan 8 with Velcro
So I’m doing my best to make him proud when he comes seeing me playing
I enter secondary school, people call me “rich”, normal, my shoes are fucking expensive
I don’t want to wear them anymore, my father gets angry, “You have everything, we had nothing”
I’m 12, I’m messing around at school to make friends
The music teacher kills himself, he is in the teacher’s paradise now
[Chorus 2]
When I was 11, I wanted to be 13
When I was 13, I couldn’t wait to see what was next
Today, I’d prefer if time could stop
Ah, it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the quest

[Verse 3]
I often fell in love, but this time she did too
I leave all my friends, I’m only seeing my girl, we’re smoking cigarettes
14 years-old, I’m just a ghost, at least that’s what my parents say
Babe wants me to spend more time with her, yet she’s always in a mood with me
As I’m moving out, we break up, I’m telling myself love is overrated
My brother is better than me playing basket, so I give up
I’m 15, I’m watching Kids again and again, I’m hanging out with dude like Casper
My father is strict with me, so I’m bothering my brother

[Chorus 3]
When I was 15, I just wanted to be 16
When I was 16, I couldn’t wait to see what was next
Today, I’d prefer if time could stop
Ah, it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the quest

[Verse 4]
I’m going downstairs, afraid, to get my grades before my parents do
At home it’s the Cold War, we don’t understand each other’s so I don’t talk anymore
I’m 16 and I’m climbing out the window to see my friends at the skate park
We drink beers, we smoke joints, and I’m saying all that in my raps
Years passes, a bit too much, so I’m not singing my age anymore
My brother film when I’m giving the ring, my sister animates the wedding
The things I don’t dare telling to anyone are the same that fill concert halls
Mom is here, my father is proud, and the Universe isn’t that bad
[Chorus 4]
When I was 16, I just wanted to be 17
When I was 17, I couldn’t wait to see what was next
Today, I’d prefer if time could stop
Ah, it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the quest
When I was 5, I just wanted to be 7
When I was 7, I couldn’t wait to see what was next
Today, I’d prefer if time could stop
Ah, it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the quest