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March 7, 2006
"...and there'll be dancing in the street"
I took a Sunday morning stroll down Rue Mouffetard in the 5th arrondissement, near the Panthéon, and came upon something wonderful: an impromptu dance floor. There, next to the crates of clementines and pineapple being peddled at the market, was a cluster of older French couples dancing merrily in the street to a small ensemble of musicians. Onlookers were huddled around them, singing songs that they knew by heart. My favorite couple was an adorable little girl spinning around with her grandmother.

One man handed me the a sheet with the lyrics, which I accepted with a “merci.” Here’s the chorus for “Ou est-il donc?”:
Où est-il mon moulin de la Place Blanche?
Mon tabac et mon bistrot du coin?
Tous les jours étaient pour moi Dimanche!
Où sont-ils les amis les copains?
Où sont-ils tous mes vieux bals musette?
Leurs javas au son de l'accordéon
Où sont-ils tous mes repas sans galette?
Avec un cornet de frites à dix ronds
Où sont-ils donc?

Posted by
at 11:16 AM | Permalink