Le Bruit des villes [English translation]

Clang, clang! There goes life,

Clang, clang! Drum and fife,

Clang, clang! Angry strife.

There goes life, scaring me!

Clang, clang! With their din

Clang, clang! Storms will bring

Clang, clang! Calm within

To the sky’s fevered plea…

Clang, clang! Factory floor

Clang, clang! Coalmine’s core

Clang, clang! Drum the score

With tools of industry.

Clang, clang! Underground

Clang, clang! Onward bound

Clang, clang! Every sound

Chimes with my misery!

Your arms at night can restore all my poise,

I need so much to forget all this noise!

Bring me respite from this hell I despise…

Make me a patch of paradise…

Clang, clang! Voices call,

Clang, clang! Never stall,

Clang, clang! Till the squall

Tops the wall like a sea.

Clang, clang! It collides,

Clang, clang! It derides,

Clang, clang! Overrides

All my heart sought to flee.

Clang, clang! It’s no use

Clang, clang! Calling truce,

Clang, clang! Its abuse

Sounds a wild jamboree!

Clang, clang! Down I creep

Clang, clang! Buried deep

Clang, clang! In the heap,

Please my love, rescue me…

Clang, clang!

Clang, clang!

Clang, clang!

• Artist:Édith Piaf