I sit on a bench on Place des Abbesses in Paris. There is a colourful merry-go-round in the centre of this autumn- leaf covered square in the heart of Montmartre, Paris. A young Parisian is sitting on the steps of the nearby church strumming on his guitar with his cap waiting hopefully on the footpath for some spare change. “My life is brilliant. My love is pure. I saw an angel. Of that I’m sure”, he sang from the song of James Blunt.
It made me think. It made me think of all those people in history who have wandered through the streets of Montmartre, and sat on the seat where I sit – Van Gogh, Picasso, Lautrec, Cocteau, Montand.
“I saw your face in a crowded place, And I don’t know what to do” the young guitarist continued.
I imagine.
I imagine the faces, like Edith Piaf who probably sat on the same steps singing a song. Imagine! But what of this young man singing, could he end up like Edith Piaf. It was near here that Edith Piaf was discovered by Louis Leplée, and where her life took off, and could the same happen to our guitarist friend.
Edith Piaf. Courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/yidayida/2412603197/
As another wave of camera wielding tourists exited the metro on their way to Sacre Coeur I thought of Edith Piaf. She was born in a doorway in utter destitution near here, to her street dwelling parents, on a wintery December night. Her mother abandoned her and she spent her first years being “cared” for by an aunt and grandmother, being brought up in a brothel. She was blind until she was seven. The local prostitutes at the brothel took Edith to pray at a shrine to Saint Thérèse de Lisieux , where her blindness was miraculously cured.
Place Edith Piaf, Metro: Porte de Blagnolet
This was her place. This was where all the artists and singers frequented. From the seedy Rue Pigalle through to the bars and clubs of Belleville, she sang on stages and street corners, ever since she was a young teenager. No guitar in her luggage, just a voice that captured the eye of a night club owner, and eventually the eyes of the world. With her slight stature of 1.45m she soared over the world stage. She will have sat here on my bench under the plane trees pregnant with her daughter Marcelle. She will have sat here making her decision as a 17 year old mother not to look after her newborn daughter, and instead leave her in the care of friends. It may have been here where she mourned the death of this daughter at the age of two years old.
“And I don’t know what to do, ‘Cause I’ll never be with you” my guitarist friend continued.
“The Little Sparrow” as she became known, went on to be the magnet for French music assisting in the arrival of such household names as Yves Montand and Charles Aznavour. I can see them now sitting in front of the Le Saint Jean Bar on the side of the square dragging on their cigarettes and planning their next performances!
Edith Piaf will have strolled through Place des Abbesses with a string of lovers and husbands. She knew love, but she knew despair, as husbands and lovers either were killed (through accident or worse) or they left her.
“But it’s time to face the truth, I will never be with you” my guitarist friend concluded. The present and the past comfortably hold hands on a cold autumn day.
Edith Piaf's tomb in Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Earlier I had travelled by bus to the Cemetery Père Lachaise in Paris. Visiting cemeteries is not a usual trip for me, but was astounded by my journey. Over 30 minutes I walked through the last two centuries of France, and after walking past Jim Morrison and his fans, then Oscar Wilde and his well lipsticked friends, I arrived at the grave stone of the Little Sparrow, Edith Piaf. Her tomb was as small as her stature, but she remained here with her daughter, and one husband, and every day is kept company by her army of admirers. She captured our imagination having written and performed such classic songs as La Vie en Rose, Non Je Ne Regrette Rien, Hymne à l’Amour, Les Trois Cloches (The Three Bells) and Milord.
Having been forbidden a Roman Catholic mass because of her unconventional life style, she was transported through the centre of Paris, farewelled by over 40,000 admirers, to the Père Lachaise cemetery where she now lies. Through a short life of heart-ache and despair, she also experienced brief moments of love and success, but through it all “le petit moineau” admitted “non, je ne regrette rien”, “I don’t regret anything at all, Nor the good that was given me, Nor the evil they’re all the same, No I don’t regret anything at all.”
The Sparrow and the Rose.
La Vie en Rose
The sparrow sang.
La Vie en Rose,
And flew into the Valley of Thorns
As the three bells rang.
—–
From a Parisian street
On a cold winter’s night,
In a country ravaged by war,
Wings desperately beating as it took flight,
A young sparrow’s song
Would make the world’s hearts soar.
—–
La Vie en Rose
The sparrow sang
From the depths of an anguished soul.
—–
La Vie en Rose
The little sparrow sang
In a voice so hauntingly sad.
—–
La Vie en Rose
The bleeding sparrow sang
While impaled on the thorns of life.
Edith Piaf – (1915 – 1963)
(The poem following my narrative was written and shared by the well-known shoe maker, travel blogger and poet, Jim McIntosh, from http://holesinmysoles.blogspot.com/. Jim is one of the world’s caring sensitive citizens who among other things has a passion for preserving and protecting African wildlife and their communities, and anyone with an interest in these concerns would be encouraged to follow and support his generous and charitable activities.)
Interesting Links:
Possible Visits:
Musée Edith Piaf.
5, rue Crespin du Gast , 75011 Paris Tel/Fax: 01 43 55 52 72. Metro: Ménilmontant Bus: 96. Open: by appointment: 1-6 p.m
This museum is in a private apartment where her belongings remain. You need to ring and make an appointment – then climb the four floors to the apartment!
Place Edith Piaf: This bustling square contains a statue of Piaf which was inaugurated by the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, on October 11, 2003, to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of her death. Also includes the Café Bar Edith Piaf! Metro: Porte de Bagnolet (Line 3).
Cemetery Père Lachaise: Metro: Pere Lachaise (Line 3)
Piaf’s Last Address: 67 Blvd Lannes, Metro: Porte Dauphine (Line 2)
Amazing how the prose grew from my initially starting to write about a street performer, and I had been asked to write a poem about roses for a poetry hop, and at the same time I was listening to her CD and I was just jotting down notes about Edith Piaf.
When I stopped and looked at those notes I realised this was the “rose” I would write about, La Vie En Rose was playing, and the notes were very much as they appear above.
Coincidence sure.
Hope everyone likes the combined article.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Jim, thanks for your wonderful poetry on Edith Piaf. Magnifique!
Lovely combination of narrative writing and poetry, with the musical history sprinkled throughout. I loved the Edith Piaf biopic La Vie En Rose, so I could picture your scenes quite vividly. Good work, gentlemen!
Thanks Bret. It was a fun collaborative exercise sharing the story of this incredible woman.
Beautiful post and poem by Jim. I loved the movie “La Vie en Rose” about Piaf. It was so moving, as is your account here. I also like the James Blunt song – perfectly complements your story.
Thanks Cathy. By incorporating James Blunt I wanted to try and bring Edith Piaf and Jim’s poem in to the present! Hope it worked!!?
Hi Brett, strange how this came about. John and I were talking about a “Street Performers” article then I think we both realized that Edith Piaf would be one of the most famous of all street performers- born in the street, performing in the street, and “discovered” in the street singing for a living.
So I looked at my notes and thought I don’t have to write much more, they had all fallen much as you see them above and sent them to John. We both instinctively felt this article should be based on John’s text, and the poem enhances it for a more personal look at Edith Piaf.
Hi Cathy, nice to read your comments. The first time I ever heard Edith was way back in early 60’s when I heard “Les Trois Cloches”. Didn’t register who it was, but remembered her because the “Jimmy Brown” version was so popular at that time, but the original by Piaf sort of placed a question in my mind as to who was that beautiful singer.
So the first verse references that song.
Yes the film was really good but still perhaps didn’t truly convey some of the hard heartbreaks in her life somehow. Throughout her songs and that film there is still a strong thread of hope and not being scared to embrace another love again. Grabbing what you can, enjoying it to the fullest !
Wonderful blend of place description and biography, of prose and poetry. It’s amazing how one person can color the way we look at a place.
And I love the poem, Jim. The sparrow and the rose – that truly summed up Edith Piaf. The tender, tragic, fleeting yet formidable beauty that she was.
that is wonderful Jim , i love the history and i will have to find some of her music thank you for joining the hop god bless
Hello.
Visiting from Roy’s Poe-a-tree Hop.
Fascinating information contained here.
Edith had a beautiful, melancholic voice. Nice video picks.
Of course, who doesn’t know Charles Aznavour & “She”.
Vivid poetry indeed.
Thanks for sharing.
A Weeping Rose
i love learning something new – all of it was news to me so beautifully packaged and delivered!
Wonderful shared post! Very evocative: both prose and poetry.
Thanks Robin for your kind words! I wonder if you hear much music on the streets of Tarifa?!
I really enjoyed this post. Very moving and evocative. I really felt as though i was sitting there in Paris with you. Very melancholy…..just the right tone for such a bitter sweet story.
Wonderful
Anneli thanks for your comment on our Edith Piaf post. I’m glad you enjoyed the article.
Wow Jim, I’m beginning to see a whole other side to you LOL. This is a wonderful post and poem. Thank you for sharing!
Loved reading this Jim. Thank you for sharing
I loved reading this too! I have heard of Edith Piaf but was not very familiar with her history. Reading this I felt it! Lovely.
Debbie, you MUST follow the link in the story to listen to her music! Thanks for your comment.
This is a beautiful tribute to the singers and city of Paris.
Thank you Jan for your comment.
Wonderful article, John! Felt like I was right there, listening to her sing in the streets of Paris.
Thanks Barbara. I must say that I never underestimate the talent that is on the street corners of Paris, thanks to Edith Piaf – you never know when you might be listenting to a star of hte future!
In June 1961 French music critics paid tribute to the country’s most popular singer, presenting Piaf with the Prix du disque de l’Académie Charles-Cros for the outstanding contribution she had made to French music.
“Wonderful, brave, clever, caring and understanding lady,
she will be remember forever by many generations.”
I have always been a fan since my College days studying
music and french.
‘Je ne regrette rien’ is my anthem – as it probably is for anyone who’s made mistakes. A beautiful tribute – but what is it with Jim? I dropped by here to thank you for visiting Jim’s ‘Red Alert’ guest post on my blog – and here he is again!! Well done to both of you!!
Beautifully written article. I didn’t know much about Edith Piaf until the movie a couple years ago, but I’d love to learn more about her.
Thanks Michael. I’ll have you singing along to Edith Piaf before too long!!