Papaoutai (Afro Soul) Lyrics [English Translation] | Chill77 | Mikeeysmind

mikeeysmind, Chill77, and Unjaps bring a fresh Afro Soul twist to Stromae’s Papaoutai. This version keeps the original’s heartfelt question about an absent father. Stromae writes lyrics that blend childhood longing with adult reflection.

Papaoutai (Afro Soul) Lyrics [English Translation] | Chill77 | Mikeeysmind
Released: December 20, 2025

Papaoutai (Afro Soul)

Chill77 | Mikeeysmind

Lyricist
Stromae
Composer
Stromae

Papaoutai (Afro Soul) Lyrics Translation – Chill77 | Mikeeysmind

Stromae sings, ‘Where are you, dad?’ over and over, showing a child’s desperate search. He mentions how everyone knows how to make babies but asks, ‘Who knows how to make fathers?’ The lyrics describe a painful gap between being a parent and truly being present.

Dites-Moi D’où Il VientTell me where he comes from,
Enfin Je Saurai Où Je VaisAnd I’ll finally know where I’m going.
Maman Dit Que Lorsqu’on Cherche BienMom says that when you search well,
On Finit Toujours Par TrouverYou always end up finding.
Elle Dit Qu’il N’est Jamais Très LoinShe says that he’s never very far,
Qu’il Part Très Souvent TravaillerThat he leaves very often to work.
Maman Dit ‘Travailler C’est Bien’Mom says, ‘Working is good,’
Bien Mieux Qu’être Mal AccompagnéMuch better than being in bad company.
Pas VraiRight?
Où Est Ton PapaWhere is your dad?
Dis-Moi Où Est Ton PapaTell me, where is your dad?
Sans Même Devoir Lui ParlerWithout even having to talk to him,
Il Sait Ce Qui Ne Va PasHe knows what’s wrong.
Ah Sacré PapaAh, what a dad.
Dis-Moi Où Es-Tu CachéTell me, where are you hiding?
Ça Doit (Faire Au Moins Mille Fois Que J’ai)It must be at least a thousand times that I’ve,
Compté Mes DoigtsCounted my fingers.
HeyHey.
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Où T’es Où PapaoutaiWhere are you, where are you, where, dad, where are you?
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Où T’es Où PapaoutaiWhere are you, where are you, where, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Ah Ah AhWhere are you, ah, ah, ah.
Quoi Qu’on Y Croie Ou PasWhether we believe it or not,
Y Aura Bien Un Jour Où On N’y Croira PlusThere will come a day when we won’t believe anymore.
Un Jour Ou L’autre On Sera Tous PapasOne day or another, we’ll all be dads.
Et D’un Jour À L’autre On Aura DisparuAnd from one day to the next, we’ll have disappeared.
Serons-Nous DétestablesWill we be detestable,
Serons-Nous AdmirablesOr will we be admirable?
Des Géniteurs Ou Des GéniesJust procreators or geniuses?
Dites-Nous Qui Donne Naissance Aux IrresponsablesTell us who gives birth to the irresponsible ones.
Eh Dites-Nous QuiHey, tell us who.
Tiens Tout Le Monde Sait Comment On Fait Des BébésWell, everyone knows how to make babies,
Mais Personne Sait Comment On Fait Des PapasBut nobody knows how to make fathers.
Monsieur Je-Sais-Tout En Aurait Hérité C’est ÇaMr. ‘Know-It-All’ must have inherited it, is that right?
Faut L’sucer De Son Pouce Ou QuoiDo you just have to make it up on the spot or what?
Dites-Nous Où C’est Caché Ça DoitTell us where it’s hidden, it must
Faire Au Moins Mille Fois Qu’on ABe at least a thousand times that we’ve,
Bouffé Nos DoigtsEaten our fingers.
HeyHey.
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Où T’es Où PapaoutaiWhere are you, where are you, where, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Où T’es Où PapaoutaiWhere are you, where are you, where, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Ah Ah AhWhere are you, ah, ah, ah.
Où Est Ton PapaWhere is your dad?
Dis-Moi Où Est Ton PapaTell me, where is your dad?
Sans Même Devoir Lui ParlerWithout even having to talk to him,
Il Sait Ce Qui Ne Va PasHe knows what’s wrong.
Ah Sacré PapaAh, what a dad.
Dis-Moi Où Es-Tu CachéTell me, where are you hiding?
Ça Doit Faire Au Moins Mille Fois Que J’aiIt must be at least a thousand times that I’ve,
Compté Mes DoigtsCounted my fingers.
HeyHey.
Où Est Ton PapaWhere is your dad?
Dis-Moi Où Est Ton PapaTell me, where is your dad?
Sans Même Devoir Lui ParlerWithout even having to talk to him,
Il Sait Ce Qui Ne Va PasHe knows what’s wrong.
Ah Sacré PapaAh, what a dad.
Dis-Moi Où Es-Tu CachéTell me, where are you hiding?
Ça Doit Faire Au Moins Mille Fois Que J’aiIt must be at least a thousand times that I’ve,
Compté Mes DoigtsCounted my fingers.
HeyHey.
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
(Où T’es) PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’es Où T’es Où T’esWhere are you, where are you, where are you.
Où T’es PapaoutaiWhere are you, dad, where are you?
Où T’esWhere are you.
Où T’esWhere are you.
Où T’esWhere are you.
Ah-Ah-Ah Oh-Oh-Oh Eh EhAh-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh, eh, eh.
Ah-Ah-Ah Oh-Oh-Oh Eh EhAh-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh, eh, eh.
Allélouiah Eh-EhHallelujah, eh-eh.
Ah-Ah-Ah Oh-Oh-Oh (Ok)Ah-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh (Okay).
Ah-Ah-Ah Oh-Oh-Oh (Ok)Ah-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh (Okay).
Allélouiah Eh-Eh (Ok)Hallelujah, eh-eh (Okay).
Allélouiah Eh-Eh (Ok)Hallelujah, eh-eh (Okay).

Papaoutai (Afro Soul) Music Video

The Papaoutai lyrics translation explores the struggle of fatherhood and the fear of repeating past mistakes. This piece offers a universal message about love, loss, and the hope for better futures.