Sketches of Paris

Along the quays the riverboats are gliding,
On the tide their dark shapes softly riding;
They come and go so silently and slow,
The hearts that beat, the lives that ebb and flow,
Where have they been, those boats?
Where will they go?

When the night falls I hear a voice, a song:
“Au clair de la lune, mon ami Pierrot,
Prête-moi ta plume pour écrire un mot.”
‘Tis the old lamplighter:
A magic turn or two, just where, he knows!
And lo! the street is filled with stars!
Then on his way he goes:
“Au clair de la lune, mon ami Pierrot,
Prête-moi ta plume pour écrire un mot.”

The night is turned into day!
And on the avenue
Miladies and Milords so gay
Are decked in ev’ry hue!

Merry-go-rounds with dancing pigs!
And prancing horses too!
While “Lady Claire” with flaming hair
Does a wonderful dance for you!

“Holà! là-bas !”
“Laisse-nous passer !”
“Ma belle Fifi !”
“Holà ! T’es bien mignonne, chérie !”

Lovers dancing in the street,
Confetti fill the air!
The drums keep time with prancing feet!
‘Tis chaos ev’rywhere!

Giants and dwarfs are there!
The man who swallows fire!
While in green a daring queen
Balances on a wire!

When shadows fall I wander thro' the gardens,
Among the flowers and grass,
I linger on the beauty all around me:
Then two lovers pass.

The autumn leaves are falling thro' the gardens,
But in their heart is spring!
I hear him murmur: "Ah! je t'aime!"
As she answers low: "Cher ami!"

I linger on the beauty all around me,
As the hours pass.

Old Gustave in the café
Sips his absinthe day by day;
While others swiftly move about
He slowly pours his poison out.

He's dreaming dreams in his own style,
And often, a peculiar smile
Flits across his ashen face.
Sometimes a tear will find a place

And trickle down his withered cheek;
He is so pale, so old, so weak;
Slowly his life slips away,
Old Gustave, in the café.

City of charm,
City of desire!
City of immortal dreams!
of eternal fire!

Burn into the hearts of men,
that thy light may never fade!
Give of thy beauty,
Of thy hope inspired, passion-made!

Youth, Joy, and Love, are knocking at thy gates;
Let them in!
To dream their rarest dreams
In thy fair arms!

City of charm,
May they ever linger among thy shadows!
City of desire!