Mister Lee comes back from war 
His tunic full of earth 
And his big broken sword 
In his hand.
He would have been able to disappear
In plantations perhaps 
Or become a gold-digger 
With his cousin of the big north.
But 
Mister Lee comes back from war 
His tunic full of earth 
To see the alligator again
Of Eluard called Nestor.
He fell both from a hail of bullets 
And a cut on the belly 
Watch his entrails in the sun 
Watch his entrails in the sun
In the big smelly marsh 
He floats slowly and quiet 
Four legs skyward 
Four legs skyward.
Mister Lee comes back from war 
His tunic full of earth 
And his big broken sword 
In his hand.
What war could not be made
Nestor has just made him 
The first tear flowed 
On the cheeks of Mister Lee.
---
Monsieur Lee revient de guerre
Sa tunique pleine de terre
Et sa grande épée brisée
A la main.
Il aurait pu disparaître
Dans les plantations peut-être
Ou devenir chercheur d'or
Avec son cousin du grand nord.
Monsieur Lee revient de guerre
Sa tunique pleine de terre
Pour revoir l'alligator
De l'Eluard appelé Nestor.
Il est tombé tant de mitraille
Que sur son ventre une entaille
Montre au soleil ses entrailles
Montre au soleil ses entrailles
Dans le grand marais fétide
Il flotte doucement et tranquille
Les quatre pattes vers le ciel
Les quatre pattes vers le ciel.
Monsieur Lee revient de guerre
Sa tunique pleine de terre
Et sa grande épée brisée
A la main.
Ce que la guerre n'a pu faire
Nestor seul vient de le faire
La première larme a jailli
Sur les joues de Monsieur Lee.