The Poor People of Paris ~ Les Baxter ~ (HD)

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"The Poor People of Paris" is a popular song, with "Paris" being pronounced as "pa-REE".

It was adapted by Jack Lawrence in 1954 from the French language song "La goualante du pauvre Jean" ("The Ballad of Poor John") (words by René Rouzaud, music by Marguerite Monnot). The title arises in part from a misinterpretation of the French title, as "pauvre Jean" was taken for the same-sounding "pauvre gens," which translates as "poor people."

A recording of the song by Les Baxter's orchestra (Capitol Records catalog number 3336, with the flip side "Theme from 'Helen of Troy'") was a number-one hit on the Billboard Singles Charts in the US in 1956: for four weeks on the Best Sellers in Stores chart, for six weeks on the Most Played by Jockeys and Hot 100 charts, and for three weeks on the Most Played on Jukeboxes chart. This recording was also released in Australia by Capitol under catalog number CP-1044.

Marguerite Monnot's music began to broaden its appeal to a more international audience in 1956. That was the year easy listening king Les Baxter covered her song "La Goualante de Pauvre Jean" under the new title "The Poor People of Paris" for a number-one hit in America.

Just got back from Paris, France
All they do is sing and dance
All they've got there is romance
What a tragedy
Every boulevard has lovers
Every lover's in a trance
The poor people of Paree

I feel sorry for the French
Every guy has got a wench
Every couple's got a bench
Kissing shamelessly
Night and day they're making music
While they're making love in French
The poor people of Paree

Milk or water from the sink
Make a true Parisian shrink
Wine is all he'll ever drink
And it worries me
For with wine as cheap as water
Oh, it makes one stop and think
The poor people of Paree

Sister met a boy named Pierre
Had the craziest affair
And the day they parted there
He cried bitterly
Pierre was there to bid her farewell
But he brought his new girl, Claire
The poor people of Paree

So don't go to Paris, France
Not unless you like to dance
Not unless you want romance
Like those poor inhabitants of Paree

"Billy May/Les Baxter-The Poor People Of Paris (Jean's Song)", sound recording administered by EMI (thanks for allowing this to remain)
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