A popular song, “Sous le Ciel de Paris” (Under the sky of Paris) has stood the test of time, accompanying the tourists and lovers of Paris since the 1950s. Let’s find out more about how it became a popular song…
About the song ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’
“Sous le ciel de Paris” is a famous French song first recorded for the eponymous film released in 1951.
Jean Bretonnière first sang it in the movie.
Juliette Gréco, the Lady of Saint-Germain-des-Près, was the third performer to successfully cover and record the song (after Anny Gould) for her third 78 rpm record in September 1951.
Then followed the performances of Yves Montand, Mireille Mathieu and notably the version by Edith Piaf in 1954.
The French lyrics of ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’
Sous le ciel de Paris
S’envole une chanson
Elle est née d’aujourd’hui
Dans le coeur d’un garçon
Sous le ciel de Paris
Marchent les amoureux
Leur bonheur se construit
Sur une air fait pour eux
Sous le pont de Bercy
Un philosophe assis
Deux musiciens, quelques badauds
Puis des gens par milliers
Sous le ciel de Paris
Jusqu’au soir vont chanter
L’hymne d’un peuple épris
De sa vieille Cité
Prés de Notre-Dame
Parfois couve un drame
Oui, mais à Paname
Tout peut s’arranger
Quelques rayons du ciel d’été
L’accordéon d’un marinier
L’espoir fleurit
Au ciel de Paris
Sous le ciel de Paris
Coule un fleuve joyeux
Il endort dans la nuit
Les clochards et les gueux
Sous le ciel de Paris
Les oiseaux du Bon Dieu
Viennent du monde entier
Pour bavarder entre eux
Et le ciel de Paris
A son secret pour lui
Depuis vingt siècles il est épris
De notre île Saint-Louis
Quand elle lui sourit
Il met son habit bleu
Quand il pleut sur Paris
C’est qu’il est malheureux
Quand il est trop jaloux
De ses millions d’amants
Il fait gronder sur eux
Son tonnerre éclatant
Mais le ciel de Paris n’est pas longtemps cruel…
Pour se faire pardonner, il offre un arc-en-ciel…
The English Translation: Under the Parisian Sky
Beneath the Parisian sky
A song flutters away,
It was born today
In a young man’s heart
Beneath the Parisian sky
Lovers walkabout,
Their happiness built
Upon a tune made just for them
Beneath the Pont de Bercy
There’s a seated philosopher
Two musicians and a few onlookers
And then people in the thousands
Beneath the Parisian sky
Will sing into the evening
The hymn of the people in love
With their old city
Near Notre Dame
Perhaps trouble’s brewing
But in “Paname” everything gets worked out
A few rays
From the summer sky
The accordion
Of a sailor
Hope is blossoming
In the Parisian sky
Beneath the Parisian sky
A joyous river flows
That lulls the tramps
And beggars to sleep
Beneath the Parisian sky
God’s birds
Come from around the world
To chat among themselves
The Parisian sky
Has its own secret
For twenty centuries it has been in love
With our Île Saint-Louis
When she smiles at him
He puts on his blue suit
When it rains over Paris
It’s because he’s sad
When he is jealous
Of her millions of lovers
He unleashes upon us
His roaring thunder
But the Parisian sky
Is not cruel for long
So that he may be forgiven
He offers a rainbow
Translation by jam123. Read more.
Other audio versions of ‘Sous le ciel de Paris’
‘Under Paris Skies’ – the English version of the song by Bing Crosby:
The choir of the French Foreign Legion:
A vintage-looking version from Julien Dassin and Florence Coste:
About Romantic Paris
Check out my new eBook “ROMANTIC PARIS: A Photographic Journey”.
There are many romantic places to explore in Paris. If you’re not familiar with the French capital, here are some photos to inspire you!
what instruments are in the song Edith Piaf Sous le Ciel de Paris
Juliette Greco actually recorded it in 1951, before Edit Piaf did.
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