Lyrics and translation Amadou & Mariam - Batoma

Batoma

Batoma, your child is crying
Come take him

We sing.
We dance.
We shake.
We get a move on.
Me, I don't give a damn!

Batoma, your baby cries, Batoma
Batoma, everyone asks you, Batoma
Batoma, everyone calls you, Batoma
Batoma, your baby cries, Batoma
Me, I don't give a damn.

If the child is crying,
Give him your milk.
If the namesake of my father is crying,
Give him your milk.
If the namesake of my mother is crying,
Give her your milk.
If the namesake of my grandfather is crying,
Give him your milk.
If the namesake of my father-in-law is crying,
Give him your milk.
If the namesake of Baguayogo is crying,
Give him your milk.

We sing.
We dance.
We shake.
We get a move on.
Me, I don't give a damn!

And if the namesake of the grandfather is crying?
Let him cry until he's blue in the face.
Me, I don't give a damn.
And if the namesake of the grandmother is crying?
Let her cry until she's blue in the face?
Me, I don't give a damn.
And if the namesake of the nasty father-in-law is crying?
Let him cry until he's blue in the face.
Me, I don't give a damn.
And if the namesake of the nasty brother-in-law is crying?
Let him cry until he's blue in the face.
Me, I don't give a damn.
And if the namesake of the nasty wife of the polygamist is crying.
Let her cry until she's blue in the face.
Me, I don't give a damn.

Batoma, your child is crying.
Come take him.

We sing.
We dance.
We shake.
We get a move on.
Me, I don't give a damn!

If the children are crying
Carry them on your backs
If the children are crying
Keep them quiet
If the children are crying
Take care of them

Tjou! Tjou! Tjou!
Give him your milk
Tjou! Tjou! Tjou!
Carry him on your back...

Batoma

Batoma, ton enfant pleure
Viens le prendre

On chante.
On danse.
On tremble.
On se déplace.
Moi, je m'en fiche !

Batoma, ton bébé pleure, Batoma
Batoma, tout le monde te demande, Batoma
Batoma, tout le monde t'appelle, Batoma
Batoma, ton bébé pleure, Batoma
Moi, je m'en fiche.

Si l'enfant pleure,
Donne-lui ton lait.
Si le filleul de mon père pleure,
Donne-lui ton lait.
Si la filleule de ma mère pleure,
Donne-lui ton lait.
Si le filleul de mon grand-père pleure,
Donne-lui ton lait.
Si le filleul de mon beau-père pleure,
Donne-lui ton lait.
Si le filleul de Baguayogo pleure,
Donne-lui ton lait.

On chante.
On danse.
On tremble.
On se déplace.
Moi, je m'en fiche !

Et si le filleul du grand-père pleure ?
Laisse-le pleurer jusqu'à ce qu'il devienne bleu.
Moi, je m'en fiche.
Et si la filleule de la grand-mère pleure ?
Laisse-la pleurer jusqu'à ce qu'elle devienne bleue ?
Moi, je m'en fiche.
Et si le filleul du méchant beau-père pleure ?
Laisse-le pleurer jusqu'à ce qu'il devienne bleu.
Moi, je m'en fiche.
Et si le filleul du méchant beau-frère pleure ?
Laisse-le pleurer jusqu'à ce qu'il devienne bleu.
Moi, je m'en fiche.
Et si la filleule de la méchante femme du polygame pleure.
Laisse-la pleurer jusqu'à ce qu'elle devienne bleue.
Moi, je m'en fiche.

Batoma, ton enfant pleure.
Viens le prendre.

On chante.
On danse.
On tremble.
On se déplace.
Moi, je m'en fiche !

Si les enfants pleurent
Porte-les sur ton dos
Si les enfants pleurent
Fais-les taire
Si les enfants pleurent
Prends soin d'eux

Tjou! Tjou! Tjou!
Donne-lui ton lait
Tjou! Tjou! Tjou!
Porte-le sur ton dos...