“Every damn thing you do in this life, you have to pay for.”
– Edith Piaf’s actual last words…
Edith Piaf at French POW camp, January 1, 1943
Without Love we are nothing at all
Edith Piaf lived a fast life in dangerous times. Coming of age at the start of World War 2 in Paris, she was a performer.
Choosing to live over a popular Paris brothel/nightclub close to the action. Her nights were spent singing at all the best brothels and nightclubs Paris had to offer…
These became very popular places at the start and all during the war for both sides. The fame gave Piaf a free pass with the invading Germans, as long as she performed…
Piaf with French Soldiers
She used this power with the Germans to be able to go to the French POW camps and sing for the imprisoned troops.
Sweet talking the German guards, they allowed her to take photographs with the troops.
When they got back to Paris, she knew another visit to the camp to sing was coming. The French Resistance made passports with the pictures of the imprisoned troops. Upon returning to the camp weeks later for an encore performance, the passports were smuggled to the POW’s in preparations to escape…
After the end of WW2, Edith faced a purge trial for collaborating with the Germans… Surviving members of the French Resistance had to come forward to tell the story of resistance…
Living a fast life in war torn times takes a toll… After a life filled with parties and the excess, Edith Piaf passed away at the young age of 48…
Edith Piaf La Goualante du Pauvre Jean (the sad song of poor John)
Where are my boyfriends?
translated from french
Where are they, all my buddies
That left a morning
to make the war?
Where are they, all my P’tits guys
who sang: “We R will come,
Should not worry.”
The drums and the bugles
accompanied their song
in the dawn clear.
Where are they, all my buddies
That left a morning
to Make the war?
I knew of p’tits guys of Saint-Cloud.
I knew a guy from la Villette.
I knew some guys from everywhere.
Not one of them did bad head.
Y’ had Ménilmontant.
Y’ were guys of twenty years.
All responded: “Présent!”
And gone singing…
I knew a p’tit guy of Saint-Cloud.
His laughing eyes had turned the head.
It was great and he liked me a lot.
When I have known, for me it was my birthday.
Comm’ the guys of Ménilmontant.
He replied: “Present”.
Also had twenty years,.
He left singing:
Where is my p’tit buddy
That left a morning
to make the war?
It was a nice p’tit guy
Who sang: “we r ‘ will come,”
Should not worry.”
The drums and Bugles
Accompanied his song
In the clear dawn.
Where is my p’tit buddy,
That left a morning ?
I know that one day, the P’tits Guy de Saint-Cloud,
I know that one day, the guys of the Villette,
I know that one day, the guys a little everywhere,
will return: Then, this will be a feast day.
All the guys d’Ménilmontant
will bring their twenty years,
all ensembl’ cry: “Present!”
and will return in singing:
Behold my p’tits buddies
That left a morning
to make the war.
Now all these p’tits guys
Who sang: “we r ‘ will come,”
Should not worry.”
You will hear the boys
Sing beautiful songs.
Everything will be clear,
This is my boyfriend,
That left a morning.
Here it is! Here they are!
Edith Piaf – Où sont ils mes copains? (Where are my boyfriends) 1941
Simone Segouin part of the French Resistance pictured taking cover during the liberation of Paris in August 19, 1944. Simone holding a German MP 40 having killed 2 German Soldiers and helping capture 25 more 2 days prior…