La Tête Haute

It's my birthday, I'm nineteen
No more hair and all my teeth
And when I look ahead
There's a blur in time
Soon the doctor will come
Give me my results
And I'll know whether or not
I have a chance of recovery
My birthday candles
Might be the last
But I'm not even nervous
I have this quiet strength within me
Of people who are used
To seeing death lurking

{Chorus:}
I've overcome everything
Head bowed
If I go down the hill
It will be with my head held high

If I reach the end
Of my much too short life
I will still leave in peace
Without feeling regret
Because even if I still have the flame
I have this old soul within me
Of those for whom wisdom
Has replaced youth
And who have kept me hopeful
In the darkest moments
And who have also tempered
My hard-won victories
I will stand like a king
Against this Trojan horse
Without complaining about the pain
And without crying over my misfortune
Whether I survive or die
Now I am no longer afraid

{To the Chorus}

It's my birthday, I'm nineteen
No more hair but all my teeth
I will blow out the candles
The last ones of my life
The doctor confirmed it to me
The illness has progressed too much
A matter of a few weeks
Maybe barely two months
My eyes floating in water
In a final convulsion
Of anger and helplessness
We must accept the evidence
It's no longer time for tears
I must lay down my arms

I've overcome everything
Head bowed
Now I go down the hill
And I have my head held high
I have my head held high
I have my head held high
High