I remember very well
A little dance at the Marine
Near Grenelle Bridge
Where I met my little cousin sisters**
Aged 17
There wasn't much money
Everybody paid for themselves
And when it got late
One went on foot towards the dawn
At the end of the week
One returned to the Marine
Then to the Seine bank
To then take our little cousins away
Such was our weekend
In the very heart of Paris
One said "I love you"
And it was for life
And it was for love
Anyway
Then time passed
Over our young years
And everything has drastically changed
Little street dances
Little street dances lost
Nobody meets again
The electric guitar
Has been pouring out Margot***
That's a different music
To a different beat
But it's sure not to be dead
The little dance at the Marine
And there still exists
A pretty redhead,
Another one, of course,
But since it all starts again
Invite her to a dance
She'll tell you: Thank you, Monsieur
But they are still the same
At a little dance at the Marine
They prefer their young boyfriends
They are not in our plans
They are but 17
But with not much money on
They have new hearts
And you will return widowed
But it's always like this
At the Marine
But since there'll always be
Little street dances at the Marine
With young boys
For pretty young redheads
I'll always guard
As a love flower
As a lost flower
Which trails in the streets
But which for ever stays
At the Marine