I write to give word the war is over
Send my cinders home to mother
They gave me a medal for my valor
Leaden trumpets spit the soot of power

They say, "I'm on your side
"When nobody is, 'cause nobody is
"Come sit right here and sleep
"While I slip poison in your ear"

We are waiting on a telegram
To give us news of the fall
I am sorry to report
Dear Paris is burning after all

We have taken to the streets
In open rejoice revolting
We are dancing a black waltz
Fair Paris is burning after all

Enclosed in this letter there's a picture
Black and white for your refrigerator
Sticks and stones have made me smarter
It's words that cut me under my armor

They say, "I'm on your side
"When nobody is, 'cause nobody is
"Come sit right here and sleep
"While I slip poison in your ear"

We are waiting on a telegram
To give us news of the fall
I am sorry to report
Dear Paris is burning after all

We have taken to the streets
In open rejoice revolting
We are dancing a black waltz
Fair Paris is burning after all

Dance poor people, dance and drown
Dance fair Paris to the ground
Dance poor people, dance and drown
Dance fair Paris, ashes now

Dance poor people, dance and drown
Dance fair Paris to the ground
Dance poor people, dance and drown
Dance fair Paris, ashes now

Dance poor people, dance and drown
Dance fair Paris to the ground
Dance poor people, dance and drown
Dance fair Paris, ashes now


Lyrics submitted by mistercrinkles

Paris Is Burning Lyrics as written by Anne Erin Clark

Lyrics © Takwene LLC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Iricom US Ltd, Songtrust Ave

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Paris Is Burning song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I agree that St. Vincent's lyrics tend to work on multiple levels, and there were a couple bits that jumped out at me: "poison in your ear" is likely an allusion to Hamlet (Act I, scene 5) where the ghost of Hamlet's father tells him he was murdered by the current king. Possibly also to Act I, scene 5, where words are equated to a poison in the ear.

    Paris was certainly bombed to pieces in WWII, but the multiple uses of "black" and the "open rejoice revolting" made me think of the riots, mainly by black Africans in Paris in the summer of 2005,

    bugmenot123on October 17, 2007   Link

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