A Sojourn Round Europe, Pt. 2 (Live)
[Spoken]
So next we’re going to ah we’re going to go to France
The land of the free and fries. And we’re going to go to Paris
And an area in Paris La Butte.And ah a thi this song
I was gonna sing it in ahm in English, but the translations word [?] these songs are very you know dry and clunky and they kinda read a little bit like ah the ah ah washing instructions on the back of your shirt. Know what I mean..
Are not so good. So I decided I was just gonna sing it ah in French for you
Ahm and also the lyrics were written by Jean Renoir,and you don’t mess with Jean
So, ah I’ll tell you a little bit, in case you don’t speak french, I’ll tell you a little bit about the story. So it’s about this man,I’m this man obviously and I’m singing this song about this area of Paris called La Butte
And you got these steps to La Butte, it’s sort of a park where all the prostitutes hang out
And there’s this big windmill that kind of looks over the park and ah and then the moon is shining ,you know as all these transactions are happening
And like he’s talking about this girl that he sees, and she’s she’s she’s kind of a bit of a skank. To be honest, She’s got..she’s..(laughter) so..so..some cleaning instructions?..
Some, yeah well there’s some cleaning with yeah yes yeah [?] high like [?]
She keeps going on about how, you know, her her pedicure,toe[?] , [?] dirty and a bit smelly, and when he kisses her, he tastes weird stuff on her breath and some of that
And you know, she’s a bit grumpy, she’s a bit of a grumpy old thing
But ah he he loves her and ahm he talks about the way the moon shines on her hair and her eyes, and and even though she’s this you know grumpy old sick old thing, he just thinks she’s the most beautiful thing ever, and so here it is..
It’s called Complainte De La Butte..