The poor people of paris-instrumental version by les baxter was the # 18 song of the 1955-1959 rock era-his version was # 1 for 6 weeks in 1956-competing versions charted by lawrence welk (#17), russ morgan (#19), and -chet atkins (#52)-english words by jack lawrence and music by marguerite monnot-written in 1954 as "la goualante de pauvre jean" and introduced by edith piafjust got back from paris, franceall they do is sing and danceall they've got there is romancewhat a tragedyevery boulevard has loversevery lover's in a trancethe poor people of pareei feel sorry for the frenchevery guy has got a wenchevery couple's got a benchkissing shamelesslynight and day they're making musicwhile they're making love in frenchthe poor people of pareemilk or water from the sinkmake a true parisian shrinkwine is all he'll ever drinkand it worries mefor with wine as cheap as wateroh, it makes one stop and thinkthe poor people of pareesister met a boy named pierrehad the craziest affairand the day they parted therehe cried bitterlypierre was there to bid her farewellbut he brought his new girl, clairethe poor people of pareeso don't go to paris, francenot unless you like to dancenot unless you want romancelike those poor inhabitants of paree