Poor People of Paris
Chet Atkins Lyrics


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Just got back from Paris France
All they do is sing and dance
All they got is romance
What a tragedy

Every boulevard has lovers
Every lover's in a trance
The poor people of Paris
I feel sorry for the French

Every guy has got a wench
Every couple's got a bench kissing shamelessly
Night and day they're making music
While they're making love in French

The poor people of Paris
Milk or water from a sink
Make a true Parisian shrink
Wine is all he'll ever drink

And it worries me
For with wine as cheap as water
Oh it makes one stop and think
The poor people of Paris

Sister Madam Pierre
Had the craziest love affair
And the day after they parted there
He cries bitterly

Pierre was there to bid her farewell
But he brought his new girl Claire
The poor people of Paris
So don't go to Paris France

Not unless you like to dance
Not unless you want romance
Like those poor inhabitants of Paris

[Spoken]




In the meantime, I got to hurry back there
I think I forgot something...

Overall Meaning

Chet Atkins's song "Poor People of Paris" is a witty account of Parisian life from the perspective of an outsider. The song begins with the singer returning from Paris and laments the excessive romance prevalent in the city. He remarks that lovers can be found on every boulevard, kissing shamelessly on benches. The poor people of Paris are a source of pity for the singer because they are always preoccupied with romance and love, leading to neglect of other aspects of their lives.


The lyrics of the song provide interesting insights into Parisian life. Paris is a city of love, and the singer observes that romantic love is an integral part of the Parisian lifestyle. People are always making music and dancing, and it seems like love is in the air continuously. The singer also remarks about how the Parisians drink wine incessantly, even though it's not suitable for drinking all the time. He worries about the effect of cheap wine on the French people.


Furthermore, the song is not just describing the Parisian lifestyle but also hinting at the negative impact on relationships due to excessive romance. This is evident in the story of Sister Madam Pierre, who had a love affair with someone and cried bitterly after their parting. The singer highlights how people in Paris are obsessed with romance, leading them to overlook aspects such as faithfulness and integrity in relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

Just got back from Paris France
I have just returned from visiting Paris, France.


All they do is sing and dance
The people of Paris are always singing and dancing.


All they got is romance
Parisians only have romance in their lives, nothing else.


What a tragedy
It's a pity that the people of Paris only have romance in their lives.


Every boulevard has lovers
There are couples on every street in Paris.


Every lover's in a trance
The lovers in Paris are always swept up in each other.


The poor people of Paris
Those who are less well-off in Paris are unfortunate.


I feel sorry for the French
I pity the French people.


Every guy has got a wench
Every man has a woman.


Every couple's got a bench kissing shamelessly
Couples in Paris are shamelessly making out in public parks.


Night and day they're making music
The people of Paris make music at all times of the day and night.


While they're making love in French
People in Paris are making love and speaking French while doing it.


Milk or water from a sink
If a Parisian cannot afford wine, they have to settle for drinking milk or water from a sink.


Make a true Parisian shrink
Drinking something other than wine would be unthinkable for a true Parisian.


Wine is all he'll ever drink
All a Parisian will ever drink is wine.


And it worries me
This concerns me.


For with wine as cheap as water
Wine in Paris is as affordable as water.


Oh it makes one stop and think
This makes one think.


Sister Madam Pierre
A woman named Sister Madam Pierre.


Had the craziest love affair
Sister Madam Pierre had an insane love affair.


And the day after they parted there
The day after they broke up.


He cries bitterly
He cries with great sadness.


Pierre was there to bid her farewell
Pierre was there to say goodbye to Sister Madam Pierre.


But he brought his new girl Claire
Pierre brought his new girlfriend named Claire.


So don't go to Paris France
Do not visit Paris, France.


Not unless you like to dance
Unless you like dancing.


Not unless you want romance
Unless you want romance.


Like those poor inhabitants of Paris
Like the unfortunate people living in Paris.


In the meantime, I got to hurry back there
In the meantime, I must hurry back to Paris.


I think I forgot something...
I believe I have forgotten something in Paris.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARGUERITE MONNOT, RENE GUSTAVE ROUZAUD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Jack Reilly

im suprised this arrangement isnt more well known its one of his best

tuxguys

Proof positive, as if we needed it, that Chet could play anything, anywhere, for anyone...
In this case, he's playing a tune that went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart (for Les Baxter and his Orchestra in 1956) on what appears to be some local C&W TV show, c. 1960.
Chet spanned genres, even then.

Omega7991

Out of any other version I have heard of this song before Chet's arrangement here is definitely the best. Love it

Karl Rajamäki

Before I saw this performance I had no clue about
Chet and his playing. After a while, maybe a MONTH or so, I was able to play the main lick here which he plays.
5 YEARS later, and many hours of playing guitar, it's still my favourite song to play.
Here is my attempt to play it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhixvaE3h1M

F F

i keep forgetting what a sensation he was around the time i was born! i don't know what took my so long to find Chet's music, but better late than never. Just doesn't get any better! thanks for posting.

Pedro Jenking Ortega

you can listen over and over and never get bored

Gxyz222

Such articulation and such command of the instrument! Those big body hollow sounding jazz guitars are the best kind of guitar ever, a man's guitar I should say!

Steven Koehler

Holy cow--how many songs did this guy HAVE in his repertoire???? What a player.

buddythecow

How did I KNOW there was a Chet Atkins version of this without actually knowing there was a Chet Atkins version of this??

chris rocco

INCREDIBLE NO ONE HAS EVER SURPASSED THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME...CHET ATKINS

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