The Last Time I Saw Paris

Kate Smith

About The Last Time I Saw Paris

"The Last Time I Saw Paris" is a song composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, published in 1940. It was sung in the 1941 film Lady Be Good by Ann Sothern. By December 1940, six versions of the song were on the charts, with Kate Smith having exclusive radio rights for the song for six weeks. The song catered to a wartime nostalgia for songs about European cities following the Second World War Battle of France (which brought Paris under Nazi control), with "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" also proving popular. The song had not been written for the film, and Hammerstein said the song was "not written to order". It still won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1941. This was Kern's second Academy Award for Best Original Song (following his success with "The Way You Look Tonight" in 1936), and Hammerstein's first. Kern was so upset at winning with a song that had not been specifically written for a motion picture, and that had been published and recorded before the film was even released, that he petitioned the Motion Picture Academy to change the rules. Since then, a nominated song has to have been written specifically for the motion picture in which it is performed. The song inspired the title of and figures prominently in the film The Last Time I Saw Paris (1954) when it was sung by Odette Myrtil. 


Year:
1991
2:37
358 
#1

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A lady known as Paris, Romantic and Charming
Has left her old companions and faded from view

Lonely men with lonely eyes are seeking her in vain
Her streets are where they were, but there's no sign of her

She has left the Seine

The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay,
I heard the laughter of her heart in every street cafâ??

The last time I saw Paris, her trees were dressed for spring,
And lovers walked beneath those trees and birds found songs to sing.

I dodged the same old taxicabs that I had dodged for years.
The chorus of their squeaky horns was music to my ears.

The last time I saw Paris, her heart was warm and gay,
No matter how they change her, I'll remember her that way.

I'll think of happy hours, and people who shared them
Old women, selling flowers, in markets at dawn

Children who applauded, Punch and Judy in the park
And those who danced at night and kept our Paris bright

'Til the town went dark.

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Kate Smith

Kathryn Elizabeth "Kate" Smith (May 1, 1907 – June 17, 1986) was an American singer, an alto, best known for her rendition of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". Smith had a radio, television, and recording career spanning five decades, which reached its pinnacle in the 1940s. more »

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Written by: GEORGES AURIC, WILLIAM ENGVICK, JACQUES LARUE

Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Composition
The song "The Last Time I Saw Paris" was composed by a celebrated American composer named Jerome Kern.
Lyrics
Oscar Hammerstein II, a renowned lyricist, provided the poignant words to match Kern's haunting melody.
Year of Release
The song was completed in 1940, at a time when World War II was raging and Paris was occupied by German forces.
Inspiration
It was inspired by the fall of Paris during World War II. Kern's reaction to the tragic event led to the creation of this song.
Performance
One of the most notable renditions of the song was performed by American singer Kate Smith.
Accolade
The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1941.
Movie Appearance
Although Kern composed it specifically for the film "Lady Be Good," the song was not included in the final cut of the film due to runtime constraints. Instead, it was used in the film "Comrade X."
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered the song over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bill Evans.
Influence
The song's title eventually inspired a 1942 movie of the same name.
Significance
Despite its melancholy tone and tragic inspiration, the song has become an enduring classic, still beloved by listeners today for its poignant lyrics and beautiful melody.
Popularity
The song estándar highly popular during the war years, providing solace and reminiscence for those facing the realities of war.
Legacy
Despite the numerous songs that Kern wrote during his career, "The Last Time I Saw Paris" is one of his most recognized and recorded works.

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