Sous le ciel de Paris – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Yves Montand

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the romantic heart of Paris with Yves Montand's "Sous le ciel de Paris." This beloved French classic offers a lyrical journey through the city's iconic landscapes and emotions, allowing you to connect with the French language through its evocative storytelling and timeless melody.

[English]

Under the sky of Paris

A song takes flight

Hmmm hmmm

It was born today

In the heart of a boy

Under the sky of Paris

Lovers are walking

Hmmm hmmm

Their happiness is building

On a tune made for them

Under the Bercy bridge

A philosopher sitting

Two musicians, some passersby

Then thousands of people

Under the sky of Paris

Will sing until evening

Hmmm hmmm

The anthem of a people in love

With its ancient city

Near Notre-Dame

Sometimes a drama brews

Yes, but in Paname

Anything can happen

A few rays

From a summer sky

The accordion

Of a boatman

Hope blossoms

Over the sky of Paris

...

But the sky of Paris

Holds its secret for itself

For twenty centuries, it's been in love

With our Île Saint-Louis

When it smiles at him

He puts on his blue coat

Hmmm Hmmm

When it rains over Paris

It's because he's unhappy

When he's too jealous

Of his many lovers

Hmmm Hmmm

He makes thunder over us

With his fierce thunder

But the sky of Paris

Is not cruel for long

Hmmm hmmm

To forgive itself

It offers a rainbow

...

[French]

Sous le ciel de Paris

S'envole une chanson

Hmmm hmmm

Elle est née d'aujourd'hui

Dans le coeur d'un garçon

Sous le ciel de Paris

Marchent les amoureux

Hmmm hmmm

Leur bonheur se construit

Sur un air fait pour eux

Sous le pont de Bercy

Un philosophe assis

Deux musiciens, quelques badauds

Puis des gens par milliers

Sous le ciel de Paris

Jusqu'au soir vont chanter

Hmmm hmmm

L'hymne d'un peuple épris

De sa vieille cité

Près de Notre-Dame

Parfois couve un drame

Oui mais à Paname

Tout peut arriver

Quelques rayons

D'un ciel d'été

L'accordéon

D'un marinier

L'espoir fleurit

Au ciel de Paris

Mais le ciel de Paris

A son secret pour lui

Depuis vingt siècles il est épris

De notre Île Saint-Louis

Quand elle lui sourit

Il met son habit bleu

Hmmm Hmmm

Quand il pleut sur Paris

C'est qu'il est malheureux

Quand il est trop jaloux

De ses millions d'amants

Hmmm Hmmm

Il fait gronder sur nous

Son tonnerre éclatant

Mais le ciel de Paris

N'est pas longtemps cruel

Hmmm hmmm

Pour se faire pardonner

Il offre un arc en ciel

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ciel /sjɛl/ A1	noun - sky
chanson /ʃɑ̃.sɔ̃/ A1	noun - song
amoureux /a.mu.ʁø/ A2	noun - lovers
bonheur /bɔ.nœʁ/ B1	noun - happiness
philosophe /fi.lɔ.zɔf/ B2	noun - philosopher
musicien /my.zi.sjɛ̃/ B1	noun - musician
drame /dʁam/ B2	noun - drama
espoir /ɛs.pwaʁ/ B1	noun - hope
secret /sə.kʁɛ/ B2	noun - secret
habit /a.bit/ A2	noun - clothing
tonnerre /tɔ.nɛʁ/ B2	noun - thunder
arc-en-ciel /aʁ.kɑ̃.sjɛl/ B1	noun - rainbow

Key Grammar Structures

• Sous le ciel de Paris, S'envole une chanson.

  ➔ Present tense for ongoing actions.

  ➔ The phrase "S'envole" indicates that the song is currently taking flight.

• Leur bonheur se construit sur un air fait pour eux.

  ➔ Reflexive verbs to indicate actions done to oneself.

  ➔ The phrase "se construit" shows that their happiness is built by themselves.

• Quand elle lui sourit, il met son habit bleu.

  ➔ Use of conjunctions to express conditions.

  ➔ The word "Quand" introduces a condition under which he puts on his blue outfit.

• Mais le ciel de Paris n'est pas longtemps cruel.

  ➔ Negation to express the opposite.

  ➔ The phrase "n'est pas" indicates that the sky of Paris is not cruel for long.

• Il offre un arc en ciel.

  ➔ Simple present tense for habitual actions.

  ➔ The phrase "Il offre" indicates that he regularly offers a rainbow.