Ombre de la Rue
Georges Moustaki wrote lyrics for "Milord" in 1959 with music by Marguerite Monnot. Moustaki was living with Piaf at the time, of whom he commented in an interview: “I had the image of an upstart gigolo.” Much of the song seems to reflect Piaf’s experience in life and love. “Milord” is a term of address (derived from “My Lord”) to an English person of noble birth. The song recounts the feelings of a lower-class girl of the docks with a crush on a well-healed gentleman she had seen before with a beautiful woman but he never noticed her and she felt like a "shadow of the street." The man’s lover presumably just boarded a ship and left him in tears and needing consolation.
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Allez, venez, Milord Vous asseoir à ma table Il fait si froid, dehors Ici c’est confortable Laissez-vous faire, Milord Et prenez bien vos aises Vos peines sur mon cœur Et vos pieds sur une chaise Je vous connais, Milord Vous n’m’avez jamais vue Je n’suis qu’une fille du port Qu’une ombre de la rue Pourtant j’vous ai frôlé Quand vous passiez hier Vous n’étiez pas peu fier Dame! Le ciel vous comblait Votre foulard de soie Flottant sur vos épaules Vous aviez le beau rôle On aurait dit le roi Vous marchiez en vainqueur Au bras d’une demoiselle Mon Dieu! Qu’elle était belle J’en ai froid dans le cœur Allez, venez, Milord Vous asseoir à ma table Il fait si froid, dehors Ici c’est confortable Laissez-vous faire, Milord Et prenez bien vos aises Vos peines sur mon cœur Et vos pieds sur une chaise Je vous connais, Milord Vous n’m’avez jamais vue Je n’suis qu’une fille du port Qu’une ombre de la rue Dire qu’il suffit parfois Qu’il y ait un navire Pour que tout se déchire Quand le navire s’en va Il emmenait avec lui La douce aux yeux si tendres Qui n’a pas su comprendre Qu’elle brisait votre vie L’amour, ça fait pleurer Comme quoi l’existence Ça vous donne toutes les chances Pour les reprendre après Allez, venez, Milord! Vous avez l’air d’un môme! Laissez-vous faire, Milord Venez dans mon royaume Je soigne les remords Je chante la romance Je chante les milords Qui n’ont pas eu de chance! Regardez-moi, Milord Vous n’m’avez jamais vue Mais vous pleurez, Milord? Ça, j’l’aurais jamais cru Eh ben, voyons, Milord! Souriez-moi, Milord! Mieux qu’ça! Un p’tit effort Voilà, c’est ça! Allez, riez, Milord! Allez, chantez, Milord! La, La, La….. |
Come on, Milord Sit down at my table It’s so cold, outside Here it’s comfortable Relax, Milord Take it easy Put your troubles on my heart And your feet on a chair I know you, Milord You have never seen me I’m only a girl from the docks Just a shadow of the street Yet I brushed you When you passed by yesterday You were not a little proud God! Heaven made you perfect Your silk scarf Floating on your shoulders You were so beautiful One might have said king You walked like a winner At the arm of a woman My God! She was beautiful. I felt cold in my heart Come on, Milord Sit at my table It’s so cold outside Here it’s comfortable Relax, Milord Take it easy Put your troubles on my heart and your feet on a chair I know you, Milord You have never seen me I’m just a girl from the docks Just a shadow of the street To think it’s sometimes enough That there be a boat So everything falls apart. When the boat leaves It takes along The sweetheart with tender eyes Who was unable to understand She was ruining your life. Love, it makes you cry Which shows that-- life Gives you all the opportunities Only to take them back later Come on, Milord! You look lost like a waif! Relax, Milord Come into my kingdom I treat remorse I sing romance I sing to my lords Who have not had good luck Look at me, Milord You’ve never seen me But you cry, Milord? That, I would never believe Well, let’s see, Milord Smile at me, Milord Better than that! A little effort There, that’s it! Come on, laugh, Milord! Come on, sing, Milord! La, La, La….. |
NB:
- “Dame! Le ciel vous comblait:” “Dame” is a simple exclamation, like “Mon Dieu!” The rest basically means “heaven made you perfect.”
- “Dire qu’il suffit parfois:” "Dire que" does not add real meaning; it's a phrase to introduce a reflection about something; like: “to think that….” or “let’s suppose”
- “Comme quoi l’existence ca vous donne toutes les chances:” “comme quoi” means “which shows that” or “just saying…”
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