Dans Ma Rue

I live in a corner of old Montmartre
My father comes home drunk every night
And to feed us all four
My poor mother works at the laundry
I'm sick, I stay at my window
I watch people from elsewhere pass by
When the day begins to disappear
There are things that scare me a little

In My Street there are people walking
I hear them whispering in the night
When I fall asleep rocked by a tune
I'm suddenly awakened by screams
Whistles, footsteps dragging, coming and going
Then the silence that makes me cold in my heart

In My Street there are shadows walking
And I tremble and I'm cold and I'm scared

One day my father told me: Girl
You won't stay there forever
You're good for nothing, that's a family trait
You should think about earning your bread
Men find you quite pretty
You just have to go out at night
There are many women who make a living
By 'strolling on the sidewalk'

In My Street there are women walking
I hear them humming in the night
When I fall asleep rocked by a tune
I'm suddenly awakened by screams
Whistles, footsteps dragging, coming and going
Then the silence that makes me cold in my heart

In My Street there are women walking
And I tremble and I'm cold and I'm scared

And for weeks and weeks
I have no home, I have no money
I don't know how others do it
But I couldn't find a client
I beg from people passing by
A piece of bread, a little warmth
Yet I don't have much audacity
Now it's me who scares them

In My Street every evening I walk
I'm heard sobbing in the night
When the wind throws its tune to the sky
My whole body is chilled by the rain

But I can't anymore, I wait constantly for God to come
To invite me to warm up close to Him

In My Street there are angels taking me
My nightmare is finally over forever