Paris La Nuit
Mano Negra Lyrics

The lyrics of Mano Negra's Paris La Nuit present a bleak picture of the city of Paris at night, portraying a sense of disillusionment and despair. The song begins with the image of a sleeping city, where millions of people reside submissively, without anyone but an old homeless man under the Marie bridge to shout out at night. The second verse highlights the absence of "apaches" or criminals on the street and the presence of police, creating a sense of emptiness, which is indicative of how the city is dying of boredom. The refrain of the song, "Paris va crever d'ennui," translates to "Paris will die of boredom," reinforces this overwhelming feeling of hopelessness regarding the city.

The following verse calls on the youth of the country to stand together against the tyranny and corruption that their leaders are subjecting them to. The line, "Dont nous abreuvent les bouffons du baron qui règnent à la mairie," translates to "Whom the clowns of the baron that reign in the town hall feed us," represents the idea that the politicians who run the city are corrupt and oppressive, which is causing the city to wither away.

The last verse concludes that Paris is dying due to being given to a bandit who took away her sleepless nights. The reference to Arletty in the closing line is symbolic of the city's glory days when artists and intellectuals were drawn to the city, but now Paris is dying due to the actions of a corrupt leader.