Paris sera toujours Paris [English translation]

As a precaution we may put

bars on our windows

paint our facades blue

and even the wheels of our cars

strip all our museums

mess up the Champs Élysées

wrap with clay

all the beauties of our statues

cover our streetlights in the evening 1

plunge the city of lights into darkness

Paris will always be Paris!

The nicest city in the world

despite the deep darkness

its brilliance may not be overshadowed

Paris will always be Paris!

The more we lower its lighting

that more we see its courage shine

that more we see its spirit shine

Paris will always be Paris!

In order for everyone to get used to this sound

at nights we may play the siren2

we force ourselves to act the goat

with pyjamas in our cellar

With executive orders they may well

cut off our water and the same with jazz

impose gas masks on us

two by two crosswords

oblige us to remain in our homes

to go to bed everyone at eleven o'clock

Paris will always be Paris!

The nicest city in the world

and when the restrictions pile up

it plays along gently

Paris will always be Paris!

they may as well cut back its fuel3

they won't cut back its confidence

its cheerfulness and its spirit

Paris will always be Paris!

Although, believe me, since October

the dresses became much more sober

that there are less flowers and less feathers

that the colours are less fancy

as well as in parties we're done with

chinchilla and ermine furs

that the pretty decent jewels

are conspicuous mainly by their absence

that the beauty is less flashy

less sassy less provocative

Paris will always be Paris!

The nicest city in the world

even when the cannons are rumbling at a distance

its outfit is even prettier

Paris will always be Paris!

They may cut back its spendings

its eminence, its elegance

will have then that greater value

Paris will always be Paris!

1. The song was originally sung in 1939 and refers to the blackout measures2. War siren3. In french meaning also essence