The Poor People Of Paris
Chet Atkins Lyrics
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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
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...
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