Ewen Carruthers was a singer-songwriter originating from the North East of … Read Full Bio ↴Ewen Carruthers was a singer-songwriter originating from the North East of England. He played in bands in the North-East as a teenager.

He moved to Yorkshire in the 70's where he developed into a respect Singer-songwriter on the local folk scene, also being part of trio called 'Freeway'. He eventually moved to California in the early 90's where he continued his song-writing, releasing two albums on the Stockfisch label and also recording at home.

Ewen's music has been played by a number of other artists including Brenda Wootton and Mike Silver.

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Paris
Ewen Carruthers Lyrics

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Paris Ewen Carruthers

The taste of the wine and the coffee,
The cigarette smoke in the air,
The grace and the mystery,
The pride and history,
Etched on the face of a city so fair
La la la

Your cafes and your boulevards,
The names that roll from the tongue,
Boulevard St. Germain, Versailles and Montmartre,
Paris you know that you've stolen my heart...
La la la

And the back streets that vie with your beauty
You'll hide from my eyes if you can,
Like the tell-tale marks of childbirth
A woman will hide from the eyes of a man...
La la la

Oh Paris I love you, I hate you,
I cry, but you do not grieve
For one of your lovers,
You've so many others,

You don't even notice me go when I leave...
La la la

Overall Meaning

In Ewen Carruthers's song "Paris," the artist gives a poetic tribute to the beauty and allure of the French capital. He describes the sensory experience of being in Paris, from the taste of wine and coffee to the cigarette smoke in the air. However, beyond the surface-level pleasures, Carruthers suggests that there's a deeper sense of grace, mystery, pride, and history that's etched onto the city's face. He also highlights the iconic cafes and boulevards that make Paris so famous, with names like Boulevard St. Germain, Versailles, and Montmartre rolling off the tongue. The artist's love for Paris shines through his lyrics, as he proclaims that the city has stolen his heart.

Interestingly, Carruthers also mentions the back streets of Paris, which he describes as vying with the city's beauty. He suggests that these less glamorous areas are the ones that Paris tries to hide from outsiders, much like the tell-tale marks of childbirth that a woman might try to cover up. This observation adds a layer of complexity to the artist's love for Paris, as he seems to be aware of the city's flaws and darker corners.

Overall, "Paris" is a heartfelt ode to the city that has captured the hearts of countless artists, writers, and musicians over the years. Through his lyrics, Carruthers conveys the sense of awe and wonder that Paris inspires, while also acknowledging its hidden complexities and contradictions.

Line by Line Meaning

The taste of the wine and the coffee,
The sensory experiences of Paris, with wine and coffee being prominent.

The cigarette smoke in the air,
The pervasive smell of cigarette smoke in Paris.

The grace and the mystery,
The elegance and intrigue of the city.

The pride and history,
The city's sense of self and its rich past.

Etched on the face of a city so fair
All of these qualities are visibly present and prominent in the city.

Your cafes and your boulevards,
The iconic establishments and streets of Paris.

The names that roll from the tongue,
The common familiarity with Parisian names among those who love the city.

Boulevard St. Germain, Versailles and Montmartre,
Examples of such famous names and places in Paris.

Paris you know that you've stolen my heart...
The personal attachment people may feel towards the city, as if it has taken something from them.

And the back streets that vie with your beauty
Even the lesser-known and underappreciated areas of Paris have beauty and compete with the more famous ones.

You'll hide from my eyes if you can,
There is still some mystery and secrets to be uncovered in Paris.

Like the tell-tale marks of childbirth
These secrets may be comparable to the physical changes that happen to a woman after giving birth, which are often concealed.

A woman will hide from the eyes of a man...
Similar to how Paris may obscure some of its more delicate traits from those who don't know it well enough.

Oh Paris I love you, I hate you,
Conflicting emotions towards the city, perhaps due to its complexity.

I cry, but you do not grieve
Paris is indifferent to individual's experiences and emotions towards it, possibly adding to the complexity of the relationship.

For one of your lovers,
The idea of Paris having 'lovers' emphasizes the intimacy people feel towards it.

You've so many others,
Despite this intimacy, there are many others who share this same connection with the city.

You don't even notice me go when I leave...
The city is indifferent to when its visitors and lovers depart, adding to the feeling of having a one-sided relationship with Paris.

Contributed by Harper L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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