Les orgues de Barbarie [English translation]

The barrel organs that used

to sing in the streets

sang their love

then vanished.

Lonesome between its two walls

a gloomy side alley

goes sliding in the dark

to meet its boulevard.

A tender song

that's been around for a while

resurrects for a moment

all those who loved each other.

One, two, three spins.

The barrel organs

know the magic of the old

streets of Paris very well.

The barrel organs

are no church organs,

yet their rusty tunes

can sing so well.

As the handle spins,

bits of songs in the shadow

of the alleys,

the nice scores play.

As they shout themselves hoarse

in the middle of boulevards,

some boys and girls

dance on the sidewalk.

One, two, three spins.

The barrel organs

are a symphony

for the streets of Paris.

For spinning so long

in the streets of Paris

the barrel organs

lost their music.

Years went by,

tunes got old

but the organs from the past

often haunt the night.

Sometimes, two lovers,

when they're strongly in love,

can hear them still,

playing just for them.

One, two, three spins.

Barrel organs,

I can still hear you

in the streets of Paris.

One, two, three spins.

One, two, three spins...

• Artist:Édith Piaf