I’m a Greek from Horrible Histories (homage to Flanders & Swan)

Instead of knocking the Greeks we should be thankful to them		Au lieu de critiquer les Grecs nous devrions les remercier.
What’s national deficit compared to Greece’s contribution to mankind?		Un déficit national ne pèse rien par rapport à la contribution Grecque à l’humanité.
This song – in the style of Flanders & Swan (two singer-songwriters from the 1950s, now all but forgotten) – serves as a reminder.		Cette chanson – dans le style de Flanders & Swan (deux chansonniers des années 1950, maintenant presque oubliés) – vous la rappellera.
It’s brought to us by the HORRIBLE HISTORIES team and sung Mat Baynton & Jim Howick as Aristotle and Archimedes.		Elle nous est servie par l’équipe HORRIBLE HISTORIES et chantée par Mat Baynton & Jim Howick dans les personnages d’Aristote et Archimede.
And you get the words as subtitles!		Et en plus vous avez les paroles à l’écran.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxOANJ-sSu0]

You know the caveman gave us woad		L’homme des caverns Guède
Roman soldiers built the road
Egypt’s pyramids were buildings at their peak		sommet
But when we talk of great invention
It’s important that we mention
A special race who really were unique
Plato and Pythagoras
Both of them did stagger us		stupéfia
Socrates, he showed such great technique
Was there ever, ever, ever		Est-ce qu’il y jamais eu?
such a bunch of chaps so clever?
If you want to know the answer, ask a Greek!
I’m a Greek, I’m a Greek
We are all so magnifique
We invented sundials, catapaults and bricks		Cadrans solaires
Chic and sleek, so to speak		Brilliant (luisant), pour ainsi dire
Our success was not a freak		(ici) anomalie
But working hard was how we got our kicks		Comment on s’amusait
We created the first siren		sirène
And the first soldering iron		Fer à souder
The Olympics, well… that was quite a busy week		Une semaine assez chargée
So the next time that you go-go
To the toyshop for a yo-yo		Marchand de jouets
Let them know-know it was thought of by a Greek!		inventé
We are Greek, we are Greek
Nowadays you’d call us geek
But in ancient times, people thought of us as tough		durs
Our physique was not weak		faible
‘Cause when people gave us cheek
We invented boxing, and other violent stuff!		La boxe trucs
Fiery flamethrowers for battles		Lance-flammes
Pinhole cameras, baby rattles		Appareils photos ‘trou d’épingle’ – crécelle
‘Is there nothing they can’t do?’ I hear you shriek		crier
So next time you take a shower		douche
Or you see a lighthouse tower		phare
Just remember they were thought of by a Greek!
Stage acoustics, ancient harps		Scène (se théâtre)
Music sounds of flats and sharps		Bémols & dièses
Central heating at your doorsteps		Pas de porte
Splints, syringes, lamps and forceps		Atelles –
Fire extinguishers, thermometers
Coin dispensers and odometers		Distributeurs de pieces de monnaie
Pontoon bridges, pistons, pulleys		pontons
Parchment, prisms, puppets, dollies		Marionettes – poupées
Shock absorbers, draughts and maps		Amortisseur, jeu de dames
We were oh, such brainy chaps!		intelligents
Anchors, chewing gum, the list does never cease
Spinning tops, the dice, the crane		Les dès – la grue
Do we have to ask again?
Did they come from Spain?
No, they came from Greece!