Danyl offers a powerful personal story in his song ‘Brouillon’. The musician collaborates with lyricist Ilan N’kaoua to draft the words. He produces the music alongside Charlie Trimbur.
![Brouillon Lyrics [English Meaning] | Danyl](https://lyricsraag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/brouillon-danyl-translation.webp)
Released: July 16, 2025
Brouillon
Danyl
Brouillon Meaning & Lyrics (Danyl)
Danyl writes about the specific pressures of growing up Arab in France. He mentions a key line, ‘To be liked, there are only two choices: either I score goals or I make them laugh’. The narrator describes the constant judgment from society and even the police.
J’ai grandi quand les rebeus c’était pas à la modeI grew up when being ‘Arab’ wasn’t in style.
J’étais frais jusqu’en 2001 puis j’suis devenu mocheI was cool until 2001, but then I became ‘unattractive’ in people’s eyes.
J’voulais plus écouter d’raï, j’voulais écouter AkonI didn’t want to listen to Rai music anymore; I wanted to listen to Akon.
J’imitais l’accent d’mon vieux pour faire rire l’écoleI used to mimic my old man’s accent just to make the whole school laugh.
Même quand j’avais rien fait, j’avais peur d’monsieur l’agentEven when I’d done nothing wrong, I was afraid of the police officer,
Qui m’a dit dans les yeux qu’il voulait qu’je quitte la Francewho looked me in the eyes and said he wanted me to leave France.
Me renvoyer au bled alors que j’parle même pas la langueHe wanted to send me back to my ‘ancestral homeland,’ even though I don’t speak the language,
Car mon père pensait qu’pour m’intégrer, fallait pas m’l’apprendrebecause my father thought that to integrate, he shouldn’t teach it to me.
Rien qu’j’me pose des questionsI keep asking myself so many questions.
Faut qu’j’rentre à la maisonI’ve got to go back home.
Mais la maison c’est où ?But where exactly is home?
J’suis entre deux lignesI’m caught between two lines,
J’écris pile au milieuwriting right in the middle.
C’est brouillon mais c’est nousIt’s a rough draft, but it’s who we are.
Rien qu’j’me pose des questionsI’m constantly asking myself questions.
Faut qu’j’rentre à la maisonI need to return home.
Mais la maison c’est où ?But where is home supposed to be?
J’ai du mal à m’sentir à ma placeI’m struggling to feel like I belong.
Ni d’ici ni d’là-basI’m neither from here nor from there.
C’est brouillon mais c’est nousIt’s a rough draft, but it’s who we are.
La honte, j’comprends un peu mais j’parle pas bien la langueIt’s shameful; I understand a little, but I don’t speak the language well.
La honte, mmh, la honteIt’s a shame, mhm, it’s such a shame.
Ah bon, t’es surpris qu’j’ai fait des études, pourquoi, raconteOh really? You’re surprised I’ve been educated? Tell me why, go on.
Bah alors, ça compteWell then, that’s what counts.
Depuis l’époque d’la marelle, rien n’a changé c’est pareilSince the days of playing hopscotch, nothing has changed; it’s still the same.
Pour qu’on m’aime, y a qu’deux choix, soit j’marque des buts, soit j’les fais marrerTo be liked, there are only two choices: either I score goals or I make them laugh.
Quand j’parle bien, j’suis un vendu, quand j’dis wesh, j’fais la citéWhen I speak well, I’m a sell-out; when I use ‘street slang,’ I’m just a ‘ghetto kid.’
Aujourd’hui c’est brouillon, demain c’est bien dessiné, ahToday it’s a rough draft, but tomorrow it’ll be a masterpiece.
J’avais honte, j’ramenais jamais d’meuf chez moiI used to be ashamed, so I never brought any girls to my place.
J’avais peur qu’elle tombe sur ma cousine ou ma mère, ma soeurI was afraid she’d run into my cousin, my mother, or my sister,
Mon frère, la voisine d’en bas, la caissière, le mairemy brother, the downstairs neighbor, the cashier, or even the mayor.
Rien qu’j’me pose des questionsI keep asking myself so many questions.
Faut qu’j’rentre à la maisonI’ve got to go back home.
Mais la maison c’est où ?But where exactly is home?
J’suis entre deux lignesI’m caught between two lines,
J’écris pile au milieuwriting right in the middle.
C’est brouillon mais c’est nousIt’s a rough draft, but it’s who we are.
Rien qu’j’me pose des questionsI’m constantly asking myself questions.
Faut qu’j’rentre à la maisonI need to return home.
Mais la maison c’est où ?But where is home supposed to be?
J’ai du mal à m’sentir à ma placeI’m struggling to feel like I belong.
Ni d’ici ni d’là-basI’m neither from here nor from there.
C’est brouillon mais c’est nousIt’s a rough draft, but it’s who we are.
Brouillon Music Video
What does ‘Brouillon’ mean? The lyrics define an identity caught between two cultures. The song Brouillon is a sincere anthem for anyone searching for their place.