Paris sera toujours Paris [English translation]
Paris sera toujours Paris [English translation]
As a precaution we may put
bars on our windows
paint our facades blue
and even the wheels of our cars
strip all our museums
mess up the Champs Élysées
wrap with clay
all the beauties of our statues
cover our streetlights in the evening 1
plunge the city of lights into darkness
Paris will always be Paris!
The nicest city in the world
despite the deep darkness
its brilliance may not be overshadowed
Paris will always be Paris!
The more we lower its lighting
that more we see its courage shine
that more we see its spirit shine
Paris will always be Paris!
In order for everyone to get used to this sound
at nights we may play the siren2
we force ourselves to act the goat
with pyjamas in our cellar
With executive orders they may well
cut off our water and the same with jazz
impose gas masks on us
two by two crosswords
oblige us to remain in our homes
to go to bed everyone at eleven o'clock
Paris will always be Paris!
The nicest city in the world
and when the restrictions pile up
it plays along gently
Paris will always be Paris!
they may as well cut back its fuel3
they won't cut back its confidence
its cheerfulness and its spirit
Paris will always be Paris!
Although, believe me, since October
the dresses became much more sober
that there are less flowers and less feathers
that the colours are less fancy
as well as in parties we're done with
chinchilla and ermine furs
that the pretty decent jewels
are conspicuous mainly by their absence
that the beauty is less flashy
less sassy less provocative
Paris will always be Paris!
The nicest city in the world
even when the cannons are rumbling at a distance
its outfit is even prettier
Paris will always be Paris!
They may cut back its spendings
its eminence, its elegance
will have then that greater value
Paris will always be Paris!
1. The song was originally sung in 1939 and refers to the blackout measures2. War siren3. In french meaning also essence
- Artist:Maurice Chevalier