The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Le Sauvage" by the artist "Trust"

The song "Le Sauvage" ("The Savage") by the French rock band Trust tells the story of a man who has lived a hard life full of hardship. He worked himself to exhaustion ("Thirty years of labor intensified his anger"), possibly even imprisoned ("Thirty years of chains"). Society rejects him, considering him old and useless ("Look at the savage, no longer of age... He is devastated, dismissed, too old"). The lyrical hero of the song sees in this man a kindred spirit, a "brother" in misfortune.

While the "savage's" peers have come to terms with their fate, awaiting retirement and death, he cannot forget the injustice he has faced ("Months have passed, everything has changed... People his age are resigned... But give them time to die"). His anger and pain are palpable ("He walks the halls of my mind, Like a dog that has been driven mad").

The lyrical hero, being younger, could not understand the depth of the "savage's" suffering ("I was too young, I confess to the crime"). Now he realizes that the system broke this man, deprived him of his will and hope ("He is too old, caged").

The song is filled with bitterness and despair, but it also expresses the hope that the "savage" will find peace after death ("He will return from hell... I would like to hug him very tightly on the day his soul leaves his body"). The lyrical hero, in turn, is determined to avoid a similar fate ("The day will come when I am his age, But I will not be caged").