You were probably humming it without really knowing the truth behind this song. However, to write sons of joyStromae was inspired by a true story, that of Jimmy Paradis, the child of a prostitute.
Jimmy Paradis, born in 1978 in a village near Strasbourg, grew up with an abusive father. His mother was forced into prostitution under the influence of her companion. Gradually, her husband also became her pimp. To escape this violence, Jimmy and his siblings were placed in chains, with no fewer than ten homes and eight foster families. A troubled childhood that forged him a spirit of steel. Now 43 years old, he is a business executive and an activist for a cause he holds dear.
Indeed, since he was 11, this Frenchman has been fighting for the defense of sex workers, as he explains to West France † “I want to decriminalize and then legalize prostitution. I want to be a pastor and act like Simone Veil. I spoke to Eric Dupond-Morett last week and they listened to me. He even set himself an important goal: to become a minister to change the law.
“90% of the children of prostitutes are marginalized, but because society wants it to.”
His painful story even inspired a great artist on the music scene: Stromae. Indeed, the Belgian singer learned about the course of Jimmy Paradis in the show It starts today broadcast on France 2† After this testimony (to be discovered below), Stromae decided to write: sons of joy† This title is a moving and heartfelt tribute to prostitutes.
Here are the lyrics of sons of joy †
“Being alone is hard and it has been for years
And to judge, it’s easy, especially if you haven’t tasted it yet
The hardest, well, it was the first time
Then the hardest thing is to know when the last time will be, hmm
It’s true, I’m not against a little tenderness from time to time
And this time I could do it by insulting him
Yes, everything in life is negotiable, subject to payment
Besides, I’m probably his best customer
But oh, let my mama
yes I know
It’s true she’s not perfect
He is a hero and he will always be proud
That I’ll talk about it, that I’ll talk about it
I’m an asshole as they say
After all she’s done for them
Forgive their folly, oh dear mother
They dehumanize you, it’s easier
The same will court you
And everyone closes their eyes
Why does everyone hate me?
So what do I feed them?
Their life would be much more modest
Without me they would be rotten
Bed and safety come at a price, ma’am
Well, in life everything is paid
Didn’t we ever teach you that? hmm?
I am accused of human trafficking
But fifty, forty, thirty
Or twenty percent is already good
Shouldn’t they take themselves too much for models?
Ladies, or should I say “whores”
But oh, let my mama
Yes I know (yes I know)
It’s true she’s not perfect
He is a hero and he will always be proud
That I’ll talk about it, that I’ll talk about it
I’m an asshole as they say
After all she’s done for them
Forgive their folly, oh dear mother
They dehumanize you, it’s easier
The same will court you
And everyone closes their eyes
I know it’s your job
But I have to do mine, right?
Between yours and mine
The difference is that I pay tax
Come on, go around madam, take back your papers and whatever else you have worth
Poor woman, pff, find yourself a real job
But oh (but oh) so let my mama
Yes I know (yes I know)
It’s true she’s not perfect
He’s a hero (he’s a hero)
And it’ll always be proud that I’ll talk about it (that I’ll talk about it)
That I’ll talk about it (that I’ll talk about it)
I’m an asshole as they say
After all she’s done for them
Forgive their folly, oh dear mother
They dehumanize you, it’s easier
The same will court you
And everyone closes their eyes
And for those who want to (re)discover the clip sons of joyIt’s a gift :