De jolies putes [English translation]

We used to have Miss Pompom

We had Big Charlotte

Ninie from Vannes and Lady Zonzon

Who watered her bush every night

With cognac and marsala

We used to have Marie the String

Who came from Douala1

And who the colonel was so tickled by

Lovely whores, indeed

And a really nice whorehouse

Even in Dakar2

I can tell you this much

You couldn’t find its like

We used to have Lulu the Gobbler

Nana-Thrills and miss Nudie

That one used to drive men wild

When she danced with her veils

And didn’t hide even her heart

Let alone her six parsnip wisps3

We had Nini from Honfleur

And Bedwetting Rita

Lovely whores, indeed

And a really nice whorehouse

Even in Dakar

I can tell you this much

You couldn’t find its like

1. A town in Cameroon2. Capital of Senegal3. Literally, six pubic hairs the colour of the wisps on a salsify, a parsnip-like root vegetable