In Paris With You Lyrics
And I get tearful when I've downed a drink or two.
I'm one of your talking wounded.
I'm a hostage. I'm maroonded.
But I'm in Paris with you.
Yes I'm angry at the way I've been bamboozled
And resentful at the mess I've been through.
I admit I'm on the rebound
And I don't care where are we bound.
I'm in Paris with you.
Do you mind if we do not go to the Louvre
If we say sod off to sodding Notre Dame,
If we skip the Champs Elysées
And remain here in this sleazy
Old hotel room
Doing this and that
To what and whom
Learning who you are,
Learning what I am.
Don't talk to me of love. Let's talk of Paris,
The little bit of Paris in our view.
There's that crack across the ceiling
And the hotel walls are peeling
And I'm in Paris with you.
About
The poem is a monologue in which the first person narrator — we can assume the poet — describes his state of mind while on holiday in Paris with a new friend. His previous relationship has ended and he explains that he is “on the rebound”, and wishes to enjoy a less serious liaison.
The speaker doesn’t want to examine the aftermath of the serious relationship, or talk about the present relationship, or want to do conventional sightseeing — art galleries or famous cathedrals. He wants to enjoy the moment and what seems to be a sexual liaison without emotional commitment.
Structure
The poem comprises four stanzas of five or six lines, with a longer central stanza of nine lines, which forms a pivot in which the mood of the poem changes. The first half deals with his past relationship leading to the current situation; the second half is concerned with enjoying the present.
The repeated “I’m in Paris with you”, and variations on it, form a refrain — i.e. the repeated lines in a poem or song. The repetition reflects the narrator’s emotional state of mind.
Rhyme There is a regular rhyme scheme in the four stanzas, ABCCB, with a final B in the extra line of the last stanza. The middle stanza includes half-rhyme; some of these are for comic effect.
Mood The mood is superficially light-hearted, and a sub-text of heartache is strong — he is trying to recover from a failed relationship — and seems to be masking or coping with his sadness by using humour. Though pleased to be with this new friend he emphasises that this Paris trip is about enjoying a physical relationship and the present moment, not falling in love again. The other person’s wishes or voice are not mentioned and seem not to be of concern to the narrator.
The humour and risqué subject matter shouldn’t detract in any way from the cleverness of this poem. It is more skilful and complex than it first appears.
A critical feminist response is that it deals only with the point of view and needs of a self-absorbed and self-pitying man. The feelings and wishes of the other person, presumably a woman, are not mentioned. Furthermore, we can question why he didn’t pay a bit more for a decent hotel room!
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
