À bout de souffle (Blue Rondo à la Turk)

When I opened my eyes everything was dark, in the room I heard what sounded like a ringing
I tried to move... Ouch the pain in my right shoulder suddenly took my breath away, a dreadful fear invaded me and my body was covered in sweat
All my memory came back to me: the hold-up, the escape, the buddies getting shot down... I'm injured, but I'm going for it and I got the cash
I slid my hand under the pillow, the briefcase full of bills was there, all good... two hundred grand!
All in all, things were looking up, my mind started racing, my hideout at Suzy's was secure and soon we'd have the good life: the fancy hotels, the sun, the blue sea, all of life
A radio started blasting a piano tune, I knew this jam, it was Blue Rondo in the Turk, Dave Brubeck was playing like crazy, as fast as me making a run for it
Suddenly, the phone rang, my heart skipped a beat, I picked up the receiver
What?
It's Suzy, I've called twice
What's up?
There's a busload of cops at the corner
I was speechless, I was screwed
You gotta split, she said, don't come down, save yourself through the rooftops
God damn it, god damn it, cops again, quick the cash
And then the service stairs four at a time, a window was open to the stars and there I was again making a run among the TV antennas, this dough, I didn't steal it
Thirty meters below on Colisée Street it was chaos, I can't take it, I can't take it
I ran like in a dream along the chimneys
Panting, briefcase in hand, I staggered
On a roof, a fire escape was starting to descend deep into a courtyard, I went all the way down, and here I am three steps from an exit onto the street, which street? I didn't know anymore but oh well, I stepped out and immediately I saw them, four cops at the end of the street, no panic, I recognized the Living bar, I went in
The joint was packed, a couple jazz cats were jamming
I was burning up, I saw the walls, the spinning bottles
Then someone grabbed my arm, I turned around, Suzy was there looking pale, smiling at me, the sun shone again
In a whisper she said, 'Come on, I have the car close by'
We stepped out but in front of me a cop yelled, 'Don't move'
With the briefcase I hit him, then the gunshot rang out
Freezing me in place... Oh Suzy, don't worry, I'm following you, let's go
The fancy hotels, the sun, the blue sky, all of life all of life
All of life