if I had a $ for everyone who googled this, I'd have a pocket full - but none of them ever say "thanks"

You talk like Marlene Dietrich
.

And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
.

Your clothes are all made by Balmain
.

And there's diamonds and pearls in your hair
.

You live in a fancy appartement
Of the Boulevard of St. Michel
Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
And a friend of Sacha Distel

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head

I've seen all your qualifications
You got from the Sorbonne
And the painting you stole from Picasso
.

Your loveliness goes on and on, yes it does

When you go on your summer vacation
You go to Juan-les-Pines

With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
You get an even suntan, on your back and on your legs
.

When the snow falls you're found in St. Moritz
.

With the others of the jet-set
And you sip your Napoleon Brandy
But you never get your lips wet

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do

Your name is heard in high places
You know the Aga Khan
.

He sent you a racehorse for Christmas
And you keep it just for fun, for a laugh ha ha
They say that when you get married
It'll be to a millionaire
But they don't realize where you came from
And I wonder if they really care, they give a damn

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head

I remember the back streets of Naples
Two children begging in rags
Both touched with a burning ambition
To shake off their lowly brown tags, yes they try
.

So look into my face Marie-Claire
And remember just who you are
Then go and forget me forever
'Cause I know you still bear
The scar, deep inside, yes you do

I know where you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
I know the thoughts that surround you
'Cause I can look inside your head




PETER SARSTEDT
.



this song from February 1969 (I was four and three quarters and wouldn't have heard it then, as my parents only listened to Radio 4 on the radio and only played classical or the Seekers and Nina & Frederik on the gramaphone) spent four weeks at Number One, 16 weeks in total in the charts. . .

they are probably amongst my favourite lyrics of all time (right up there will Elle Est d'Aileurs)

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I fear for the individual who manages to look inside my head.

...and "gramophone", what a much lovelier word than "phonograph", though I don't know why.

Anonymous said...

...and those dresses remind me of a conversation I was having with my mum just the other day. It was about how folks "dressed up" in their cocktail gowns and suits for an evening out, once upon a time, and how, now, the shabbier and more ragged one looks, the closer they are to being ready to go out.

I suppose I'm just a man 'out of time'.

I, Like The View said...

me too, shot (not a man, but you know what I mean)

SP and I took great pleasure in "dressing up" each night of our hols (she even had a very posh right styled frock for the flamenco night and I wore my polka dot clogs for the Abba tribute night)(yes dave it was too much like Butlins for my liking, but beggars can't be choosers)

she asked why we were bothering and why we weren't saving "dressing up" for a special occasion and I said "now is the special occasion"

Vicus Scurra said...

You have devoted so much time to transcribe and illustrate the most pretentious load of twaddle ever to be recorded. Well done! It is in the pursuit of such trivia that we will all be remembered.

Greg said...

Love it. One of those songs that I have to sing along to.

Gordie said...

Thank you for not posting a picture of Sacha Distel. Or the scars.

Mel said...

How sad that I don't know the song....

I'd ask himself but....it's the wee hours of the morning and I doubt he'd find me humorous. LOL Oh, what the heck--I'D find it humorous!



Yep....I gotta get me some of them polka dot clogs......
They'd go great with mismatched socks!

Dave said...

I like the song, whatever Vicus says. Mainly for all the French bits in it.

Romeo Morningwood said...

Didn't closeted American Idol runnerup Clay Aiken update that song and rename it Invisible?

"Whatcha’ doin’ tonight
I wish I could be a fly on your wall
Are you really alone
Who's stealin' your dreams
Why can't I bring you into my life
What would it take to make you see that I'm alive

[Chorus]

If I was invisible
Then I could just watch you in your room
If I was invincible
I'd make you mine tonight
If hearts were unbreakable
Then I could just tell you where I stand
I would be the smartest man
If I was invisible
(Wait..I already am)"

This was totally uncalled for but I could not resist.

Anonymous said...

In 1997 Sarstedt recorded a sequel, "The Last of the Breed (Lovely 2)" on his CD "England's Lane". This picks up the story of Marie Claire twenty years on, living now in London. It namechecks more people and places, including Belgravia, Ballets Russes, Cape Town, Claridge's, Gstaad, John Galliano, Harrods, Jerusalem, Long Island, Milan, Rudolf Nureyev, Palm Beach, Rio de Janeiro, and Isabella Rossellini.

I can't find the lyrics to this one anywhere - can you? Apparently Peter S is a very nice man and deserves a lot more success than he got. At least he wrote a song that everyone knows, which is more than most of us ...

mig bardsley said...

Well I used to love the song though I didn't understand most of the references at the time.
We met Peter Sarstedt at a party once.
I think he's the only famous person I've ever met. Unless you count getting a book signed by Dick Francis :)

Mel said...

k......now I'm feeling REALLY ignorant for not knowing a song that everyone knows. LOL

I'll blame the flu!
Yep.
Flu's fault!

Dave said...

Did the earth move for you last night, or is London too far away from the real world?

Mel said...

*checkin' in and checkin' up*

All is well......right?

Dave now has me stuck on the Carol King song.
Oh how I played that Tapestry album over and over again......

(((((((( ILTV ))))))))))))

Chelle said...

"admirer" waves back :-)

dinahmow said...

Dave's already asked, but I came over to see if you'd had a bit of a tremble. Coming from "The Shaky Isles" I know what it can be like.
Hope all's well.

Anonymous said...

Good Morning!!!! C:)

Dave said...

So, is the house all sorted? When's the party?

I, Like The View said...

it's not the end of the month yet - it's a leap year

I don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. . .

but the one extra day might help me right now

if exchange goes ahead, completion isn't until mid May - so the party is on hold until then; however, if I get there (and I mean that it all manner of ways) there will be a party with all manner of non-alcoholic drinks and balloons and popcorn and NOONE will be expected to clear up the mess as it'll be MY house and I like mess

thanks for thinking of me

X