He was born in Battle, East Sussex, England and is remembered by many music lovers and record collectors for his numerous albums and appearances on radio and television during the era following the second world war.
From the 1950s onwards, Chacksfield was one of Britain's most famous orchestra leaders, and his fame spread around the world. Early in his career he was fortunate to have several big sellers in the USA, which firmly established his reputation world-wide.
During his recording career with Decca alone, it is estimated that he sold 20 million copies.
Chacksfield learned to play the piano as a boy and became the deputy organist for the local church. Though his parents discouraged his pursuit of music as a career, he persevered. In the late '30s, when he was in his mid-20s, he was leading small musical bands in Britain. During World War II, he was assigned to the British Army entertainment unit, and after the war he became a regular performer on the BBC.
In 1953, he formed an orchestra he called "The Tunesmiths" and won a contract with Parlophone Records. Within two years, he expanded the group from a traditional big band into an orchestra with strings and released a series of "mood music" albums. His sound was similar to Mantovani and Melachrino. His biggest hits, in both the UK and the US, were "Ebb Tide" and "Limelight."
Chacksfield was also responsible for the musical arrangement of the first ever British entry into the Eurovision Song Contest, "All" by Patricia Bredin in 1957. Only because BBC musical director Eric Robinson insisted on accompanying Bredin to the contest in Frankfurt, Chacksfield did not get the chance to perform as a conductor on this international stage.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s Chacksfield recorded a large number of instrumental recordings for Starborne Productions. The recordings were licensed for use by "Easy Listening" radio stations and functional music companies. The vast majority of these recordings were not made commercially available to the general public until 2007 by Starborne Productions.
Sur Le Pave de Paris
Frank Chacksfield Lyrics
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Valse du Film « la Fête à Henriette »
Paroles : LARUE JACQUES
Musique : AURIC GEORGES
© Editions Choudens droits transférés à Première Music Group
1953
Au bras du printemps
Il s’en va chantant
Tout au long de la seine
Ou dans deux yeux clairs
Va prendre l’air
Jusqu’au bois de Vincennes
Refrain
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
Ya toujours un refrain qui s’promène
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
Ya toujours un refrain qui sourit.
Un mot d’amour que dit un garçon
Frôle une fille et fait une chanson
Comm’ les moineaux dans le parc Montsouris
Ils se grisent de mots pour la s’maine
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
Ya toujours un bonheur qui fleurit.
Refrain
Tu me plais j’te plais,
Le premier couplet
Pour chacune est le même
Viens donc sans façon
Puisque la chanson
Finira par je t’aime
Refrain
Ils ont vingt ans ou pas beaucoup plus
C’est ce qui plait à l’air qui leur a plu
Et dans les rues, dans les rues de Paris
Le refrain plein d’espoir les entraîne
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
Ya toujours un bonheur qui fleurit.
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
Ya toujours un bonheur qui fleurit
The lyrics of Frank Chacksfield's song "Sur Le Pave de Paris" tell a tale of love and joy in the streets of Paris. The singer is depicted walking alongside the spring season, singing and enjoying the beauty of the Seine river. They rejoice in the clarity of someone's eyes and venture towards the Bois de Vincennes, a park just east of the city. The refrain emphasizes that on the pavements of Paris, there is always a melody that wanders and smiles.
The song highlights the power of love and how it can inspire a song. A simple word of affection spoken by a boy can create a touching encounter with a girl and become a song. Similar to sparrows in Montsouris Park, they become intoxicated with words throughout the week. The streets of Paris are described as a place where happiness flourishes, where one can find a perpetual melody that brings a smile.
The lyrics suggest a lighthearted romance, as the first verse implies that every girl is treated the same with the phrase "Tu me plais j’te plais" (I like you, you like me). The song encourages a carefree attitude and suggests that love will eventually develop, as the chorus repeats the idea that the song will end with "je t’aime" (I love you).
Overall, "Sur Le Pave de Paris" exudes a sense of youthful innocence and the joy of love in the vibrant streets and atmosphere of Paris.
Line by Line Meaning
Au bras du printemps
Hand in hand with spring
Il s’en va chantant
He goes, singing
Tout au long de la seine
All along the Seine
Ou dans deux yeux clairs
Or in two clear eyes
Va prendre l’air
He takes a breath
Jusqu’au bois de Vincennes
Until the Bois de Vincennes
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
On the cobblestones, the cobblestones of Paris
Ya toujours un refrain qui s’promène
There's always a refrain wandering
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
On the cobblestones, the cobblestones of Paris
Ya toujours un refrain qui sourit
There's always a refrain smiling
Un mot d’amour que dit un garçon
A word of love said by a boy
Frôle une fille et fait une chanson
Touches a girl and makes a song
Comm’ les moineaux dans le parc Montsouris
Like sparrows in Montsouris Park
Ils se grisent de mots pour la s’maine
They get drunk on words for the week
Tu me plais j’te plais
I like you, you like me
Le premier couplet
The first verse
Pour chacune est le même
For each one is the same
Viens donc sans façon
Come without hesitation
Puisque la chanson
Since the song
Finira par je t’aime
Will end with I love you
Ils ont vingt ans ou pas beaucoup plus
They are twenty years old or not much older
C’est ce qui plait à l’air qui leur a plu
That's what pleases the air they liked
Et dans les rues, dans les rues de Paris
And in the streets, in the streets of Paris
Le refrain plein d’espoir les entraîne
The hopeful refrain draws them
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
On the cobblestones, the cobblestones of Paris
Ya toujours un bonheur qui fleurit
There's always a blooming happiness
Sur le pavé, le pavé de Paris
On the cobblestones, the cobblestones of Paris
Ya toujours un bonheur qui fleurit
There's always a blooming happiness
Lyrics © PREMIERE MUSIC GROUP, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: JACQUES LARUE, GEORGES AURIC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind