Lyrics and translation Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott - Higher Hopes

Higher Hopes

With a toddler in one hand and a cigarette in the other
He looked at her through tiny puff of smoke
With kisses and cancer sticks, his daughter he would smother
In that foolish mix of confidence and hope

And I know that he had higher hopes than that
Stuck behind that desk at work, listening to that crap
When your boss wears not just trousers, but traffic warden′s hat
You know that you had higher hopes than that

He said, as soon as you got sunshine, you got clouds
Soon as you got your freedom, there's a sign says, ′Not allowed'
Soon as you get good news, you get holes appear in shoes
And that's just the way the furrows plough

He worked up at the carpark; he was by and large ignored
He parked ′em and then cleaned them all by hand
And there hadn′t been a car so far his wages could afford
Or GNP would ever understand

And he thought that he had higher hopes than this
Between the shagging couples and the staircase stained with piss
And he's always home so late at night, his kids he′s scared to kiss
And he thought that he had higher hopes than this

He said, soon as you got sunshine, you got clouds
Soon as you got your freedom, there's a sign says, ′Not allowed'
Soon as you get good news, you get holes appear in shoes
And that′s just the way the furrows plough

Soon as you got chips, you've got seagulls
Soon as you got land, you've got work
Soon as you get grigs, you′ve got lizards, you′ve got snakes
(Soon as you got chips, you've got seagulls)
That′s just the way this little axel turns
(Soon as you got land, you've got work)

Soon as you got chips, you′ve got seagulls
Soon as you got land, you've got work
Soon as you get grigs, you′ve got lizards, you've got snakes
(Soon as you got chips, you've got seagulls)
That′s just the way this little axel turns
(Soon as you got land, you′ve got work)

He said, as soon as you got sunshine, you got clouds
Soon as you got your freedom, there's a sign says, ′Not allowed'
Soon as you get good news, you get holes appear in shoes
And that′s just the way the furrows plough

Des Espoirs Plus Grands

Avec un bambin dans une main et une cigarette dans l'autre
Il la regardait à travers une petite bouffée de fumée
Avec des baisers et des cigarettes, il étouffait sa fille
Dans ce mélange insensé de confiance et d'espoir

Et je sais qu'il avait des espoirs plus grands que ça
Coincé derrière ce bureau au travail, à écouter ce charabia
Quand ton patron porte non seulement des pantalons, mais aussi un chapeau de garde champêtre
Tu sais que tu avais des espoirs plus grands que ça

Il disait, dès que tu as du soleil, tu as des nuages
Dès que tu as ta liberté, il y a un panneau qui dit, "Non autorisé"
Dès que tu reçois de bonnes nouvelles, tu te retrouves avec des trous dans tes chaussures
Et c'est comme ça que les sillons se creusent

Il travaillait au parking ; il était en grande partie ignoré
Il les garait, puis les nettoyait tous à la main
Et il n'y avait pas eu une seule voiture jusqu'à présent que ses salaires puissent s'offrir
Ou que le PIB puisse jamais comprendre

Et il pensait qu'il avait des espoirs plus grands que ça
Entre les couples qui s'embrassent et l'escalier taché de pisse
Et il rentre toujours si tard le soir, il a peur d'embrasser ses enfants
Et il pensait qu'il avait des espoirs plus grands que ça

Il disait, dès que tu as du soleil, tu as des nuages
Dès que tu as ta liberté, il y a un panneau qui dit, "Non autorisé"
Dès que tu reçois de bonnes nouvelles, tu te retrouves avec des trous dans tes chaussures
Et c'est comme ça que les sillons se creusent

Dès que tu as des frites, tu as des mouettes
Dès que tu as du terrain, tu as du travail
Dès que tu as des criquets, tu as des lézards, tu as des serpents
(Dès que tu as des frites, tu as des mouettes)
C'est comme ça que ce petit essieu tourne
(Dès que tu as du terrain, tu as du travail)

Dès que tu as des frites, tu as des mouettes
Dès que tu as du terrain, tu as du travail
Dès que tu as des criquets, tu as des lézards, tu as des serpents
(Dès que tu as des frites, tu as des mouettes)
C'est comme ça que ce petit essieu tourne
(Dès que tu as du terrain, tu as du travail)

Il disait, dès que tu as du soleil, tu as des nuages
Dès que tu as ta liberté, il y a un panneau qui dit, "Non autorisé"
Dès que tu reçois de bonnes nouvelles, tu te retrouves avec des trous dans tes chaussures
Et c'est comme ça que les sillons se creusent