Stromae – Papaoutai Lyrics in English (Translation)

Stromae’s 2013 hit “Papaoutai Lyrics in English (Translation) Meaning”, from his album Racine Carrée, is a striking reflection on absent fathers and the challenges of parenthood. Combining electronic beats with Afro-inspired rhythms, the song pairs catchy danceable music with deeply emotional storytelling. Its lyrics follow a child searching for a missing father, questioning society’s emphasis on work over family and the difficulty of becoming a parent without a role model—captured in the line, “Tout le monde sait comment on fait des bébés, mais personne ne sait comment on fait des papas.” The iconic refrain, “Où t’es, papaoutai?”, echoes this longing, while translations like “Tell me where he comes from, then I will know where I’m going” give the song a universal resonance beyond French-speaking audiences.

Papaoutai Lyrics Translation in English

Dites-moi d’où il vient
Tell me where he comes from

Enfin je saurai où je vais
Then at last I’ll know where I’m going

Maman dit que lorsqu’on cherche bien
Mom says that when you really look

On finit toujours par trouver
You always end up finding it

Elle dit qu’il n’est jamais très loin
She says he’s never very far

Qu’il part très souvent travailler
That he often leaves to go to work

Maman dit “travailler c’est bien”
Mom says, “working is a good thing”

Bien mieux qu’être mal accompagné
Much better than being in bad company

Pas vrai
Right?

Où est ton papa
Where is your dad

Dis-moi où est ton papa
Tell me where your dad is

Sans même devoir lui parler
Without even having to speak to him

Il sait ce qui ne va pas
He knows what’s going wrong

Ah sacré papa
Ah, that dad of yours

Dis-moi où es-tu caché
Tell 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 doigts
Counted my fingers

Hey !
Hey!

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, où t’es où, papaoutai
Where are you, where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, où t’es où, papaoutai
Where are you, where are you, dad?

Où t’es
Where are you

Où t’es…
Where are you…

Quoi, qu’on y croit ou pas
Whether we believe it or not

Y aura bien un jour où on n’y croira plus
One day will come when we won’t believe anymore

Un jour ou l’autre on sera tous papa
One day or another, we’ll all be fathers

Et d’un jour à l’autre on aura disparu
And from one day to the next, we’ll be gone

Serons-nous détestables
Will we be awful

Serons-nous admirables
Will we be admirable

Des géniteurs ou des génies
Just fathers or true geniuses

Dites-nous qui donne naissance aux irresponsables
Tell us who gives birth to the irresponsible ones

Ah dites-nous qui, tiens
Ah, tell us who, then

Tout le monde sait comment on fait des bébés
Everyone knows how babies are made

Mais personne sait comment on fait des papas
But nobody knows how fathers are made

Monsieur Je-sais-tout en aurait hérité, c’est ça
Did Mr. Know-It-All inherit it, is that it?

Faut l’sucer d’son pouce ou quoi
Do you get it by sucking your thumb or what?

Dites-nous où c’est caché, ça doit
Tell us where it’s hidden, it must

Faire au moins mille fois qu’on a
Be at least a thousand times that we’ve

Bouffé nos doigts
Chewed our fingers down

Hey !
Hey!

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, où t’es où, papaoutai
Where are you, where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, papaoutai
Where are you, dad?

Où t’es, où t’es où, papaoutai
Where are you, where are you, dad?

Où t’es
Where are you

Où t’es…
Where are you…

If Found Any Mistake in Lyrics?, please report them here! Report

Papaoutai Song Credits:

SongPapaoutai
AlbumRacine Carrée
ArtistStromae
LyricistStromae
MusicianStromae
LabelMosaert Label

Papaoutai Music Video

Papaoutai FAQs

Who sung the "Papaoutai" song?

"Papaoutai" Song is sung by "Stromae".

Who written the "Papaoutai" song?

"Papaoutai" Song is written by "Stromae".

Who is the Musician/Composer of the "Papaoutai" song?

"Papaoutai" Song music/composition done by "Stromae".

Which Music Company released the "Papaoutai" song?

"Papaoutai" Song is released under the label "Mosaert Label".