Le Métèque

Georges Moustaki's 'Le Métèque' is a poignant song that delves into themes of identity, otherness, and love. The term 'métèque' itself is a French pejorative term historically used to describe foreigners, particularly those from the Mediterranean region. Moustaki, who was of Greek-Jewish origin, embraces this label and uses it to paint a portrait of himself as an outsider with a rich tapestry of experiences.

The lyrics describe the singer's physical features and life experiences in a way that suggests a life lived on the margins. Phrases like 'gueule de métèque,' 'juif errant,' and 'pâtre grec' highlight his ethnic background and the wandering nature of his existence. His 'hands of a marauder' and 'mouth that has drunk and kissed and bitten' suggest a life of both sensuality and struggle. Moustaki's use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language conveys a sense of a person who has been shaped by a life of travel, love, and perhaps hardship, yet who remains unfulfilled and restless.

Despite the hardships, the song takes a turn towards love and hope. Moustaki speaks of coming to his 'sweet captive,' his soulmate, to drink from her youth and to offer her a choice of who he can be for her—a prince, a dreamer, or an adolescent. This romantic vision promises an eternal love that they will live to the point of death. The song, therefore, becomes a celebration of love's power to transcend the barriers of identity and the scars of the past, offering a future filled with endless love.