Paris, Paris nights
Where are snows of yester-year?
Poems where earth is oh-so near
with heart that knows the sadness of the soul
Life on fullest bloom
seeing courts and facing doom
risk of life to end too soon
in songs that depict life both fair and foul.

And now I understand
what you tried to say to me
how you lived in the indignity
how you went on living free.
They would not know you
they ignored and thought you low
But I know they'll know you now.

Paris, Paris nights
flaming poems that brightly tell
wine and women, songs - and Hell
and Heaven with the Jesus and his grace;
O'er is earthly race
ladies' of the years gone by
emotions which would make me cry
are written by the poet's caring hand.

And now I understand
what you tried to say to me
how you lived in the indignity
how you went on living free.
They would not know you
they ignored and thought you low
But I know they'll know you now.

For you had dispute
over the girl that was so cute
and when the feelings got so high
on that Paris, Paris night
You took his life
as lovers often do;
But I could have told you Francois
your age was never
meant for one
as emotional as you.

Paris, Paris night
hoodlums hung on gallows high
in prison you did wail and cry
and wrote your song of waiting for the noose;
Gone like a wild goose
King pardoned you and set you free
You vanished in the history
But your poems will carry on your name

And now I think I know
what you tried to say to me
how you lived in indignity
how you went on living free.
Your faith was true
your soul was bright -
I hope time has done you right