The Last Time I Saw Paris
Eddie Fisher Lyrics


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The last time I saw Paris
Her heart was warm and gray
I heard the laughter of her heart in every street cafe
The last time I saw Paris
Her trees were dressed for spring
And lovers walked beneath those trees
And birds found songs to sing
I dodged the same old taxicabs
That I had dodged for years
The chorus of the squeaky horns
Was music to my ears
Oh the last time I saw Paris
Her heart was warm and gay
No matter how they changed her
I'll remember her ah that way
Dodged the same old taxicabs
That I had dodged for years
The chorus of the squeaky horns
Was music to my ears
Yeh, the last time I saw Paris
Her heart was warm and gay
No matter how they change her
I'll remember her that way




The last time I saw Paris
The last time I saw Paris

Overall Meaning

"The Last Time I Saw Paris" is a melancholic tribute to the beauty of Paris, sung by Eddie Fisher. The song opens by reminiscing about how the singer last saw Paris. The city's heart was warm, and even though it was a gray day, the laughter of her heart could be heard in every street cafe. The singer then remembers the trees all dressed for the springtime, and lovers walking hand in hand beneath their branches, while birds sang their songs. The singer remembers dodging taxicabs that he had been dodging for years and how the chorus of the squeaky horns was music to his ears. The song concludes with the singer talking about how Paris has changed, but he will always remember her in the same warm and gay light that he saw her last.


The song's content is quite straightforward, but its subtext is quite intriguing. The song was written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern in 1940, just after Paris fell to the Nazis. As such, the song can be interpreted as a lament for a vanished world and as an elegy for the beauty of Paris that was lost. The lyrics seemingly contrast with the reality of occupied Paris, as they paint a picture of a vibrant and lively city. Still, they also embody the hope that one day Paris would be restored to its former beauty after the war ended. Eddie Fisher's soft and beautifully expressive voice adds to the emotions of the song, making it a poignant tribute to Paris.


Line by Line Meaning

The last time I saw Paris
When I last saw the city of Paris


Her heart was warm and gray
The atmosphere of the city was calm and peaceful, yet there was a sense of melancholy mixed in


I heard the laughter of her heart in every street cafe
The city was alive with the sounds of joyful conversation and laughter in every café.


The last time I saw Paris
When I last saw the city of Paris


Her trees were dressed for spring
The trees in the city had bloomed and were adorned with beautiful spring foliage.


And lovers walked beneath those trees
Couples strolled together under the trees, enjoying the romance of the city.


And birds found songs to sing
The chirping of the birds blended in harmoniously with the city sounds.


I dodged the same old taxicabs
I avoided the very same taxis that I had been dodging for years during my previous visits to Paris.


That I had dodged for years
These taxis had been a mainstay in my experiences of Paris.


The chorus of the squeaky horns
The blaring of taxi horns in unison created an enjoyable and familiar tune.


Was music to my ears
I found comfort and enjoyment in the familiar sounds of the city.


Oh the last time I saw Paris
That previous experience of Paris always stands out in my memory.


Her heart was warm and gay
The city felt vibrant and joyous.


No matter how they changed her
Even as Paris continues to evolve and change, my memories and love for the city remain the same.


I'll remember her ah that way
Forever holding onto the Paris that was in my heart during that visit.


The last time I saw Paris
When I last saw the city of Paris




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Oscar Ii Hammerstein, Jerome Kern

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

maureen1938

I love this version of this beautiful song,  Eddie Fisher had a wonderful voice.  Thanks for posting this.

CarlDuke

No one, just no one sings a song like Eddie.

william gable

The beautiful reminiscent words of Oscar Hammerstein II of pre Nazi Paris sung perfectly by Eddie Fisher.

Jackie Mcmeekin

I always liked Eddie Fisher. This is a song written after WW2. Paris suffered much destruction under Hitler. This song reminisces about what Paris looked like before the war. The U.S. was a leader in rebuilding Europe after WW2

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