Le Chevalier de Paris

Édith Piaf's song "Le Chevalier de Paris" paints a vivid picture of a knight who is deeply connected to the heart of Paris. The lyrics tell the story of a knight who has forgotten the simple pleasures of life, such as the taste of the meadows, as he is consumed by the chaos and battles within the city. The imagery of fighting in the smoke, metros, cobblestones, and bistros suggests a life filled with struggle and turmoil. Despite this, the knight is unaware of his own exhaustion and the hold that Paris has on him.

The song then shifts to a more serene and nostalgic tone, as the knight recalls a beautiful woman he once knew. Under a sweet apple tree, he finds her again, and the lyrics celebrate the joy of love and the beauty of simple moments. The woman is described with poetic imagery, having hands that speak of love and the ability to weave clay with clouds. This part of the song contrasts sharply with the earlier depiction of the knight's life in Paris, highlighting the theme of lost innocence and the longing for a simpler, more peaceful existence.

In the final verse, the knight bids farewell to Paris, acknowledging that he has been metaphorically asleep for a hundred years, standing and starving. The village's reaction to his departure is one of great commotion, but the knight only acknowledges the woman with the velvet blood and faithful heart. The song concludes with the knight's resolve to continue his battles, but now with a sense of elegance and grace, symbolized by the phrase "faire la guerre en dentelles" (to wage war in lace). This ending suggests a transformation in the knight, as he embraces a more refined and perhaps more hopeful approach to life.