"Sous le Ciel de Paris" (lyrics - English / video w/Yves Montand)

Perhaps equal representation from a chanteur.

The version by Edith Piaf is likely the most famous but the one by Juliette Gréco owns me as her voice is obviously beautiful but the way she moves her hands and fingers adds so much to it.




Under the sky of Paris
A song escapes
Hum hum
It was just invented today
In the heart of a young man
Under the sky of Paris
Lovers are walking
Hum hum
Their happiness being fashioned
On a melody made just for them


Under the Bercy bridge
A philosopher sits
Two musicians, a few loafers
And then thousands of people
Under the sky of Paris
They will be singing until night falls
Hum hum
The song of a people in love
With their old city.


Close to Notre Dame
Sometimes a drama is smouldering
Sure, but in Paname ( a nickname for Paris)
There are no problems
A few sun rays
From the summer sky
An accordion
Played by a sailor
Hope springs again
Under the sky of Paris


Under the sky of Paris
Runs a happy river
Hum hum
During the night it lulls to sleep
The poor people of the street
Under the sky of Paris
God’s birds
Hum hum
Come from all around the world
To have a chat


And the sky of Paris
Has its own secret
For 20 centuries it has been in love
With our Saint-Louis Island (an island in the Seine river)
When the island smiles at it
The sky puts on its blue suit
Hum hum
When it rains on Paris
It means the sky is sad
Because it is jealous
Of the island’s millions of lovers
Hum hum
It roars over us
Its thunderous sounds
But the sky of Paris
Is never cruel for long
To beg our forgiveness
It offers us a rainbow