Bravo pour le clown [English translation]

A clown is my friend,

A very ridiculous clown,

Whose name is written

In uppercase slaps (to the face).

Not good for an empire,

Sadder than a hat,

He drinks up enormous laughter,

And eats cheers.

For your nose that’s on fire,

Hooray! Hooray!

And your hair filled with feathers,

Hooray! Hooray!

You crack plates

While sitting on a jet of water.

You eat the glitter,

While twisted in a barrel.

For your nose that’s on fire,

Hooray! Hooray!

And your hair filled with feathers,

Hooray! Hooray!

The crowd, has its’ loud applause,

That Rings in his ears.

It makes him forget his troubles,

And the empty bottles.

His heart is unscrewed,

But they don’t care for him.

All of the applause

Is for the life he has missed.

For your unfaithful wife,

Hooray! Hooray!

And you do the dishes

Hooray! Hooray!

Your life is a reproach

That slaps you on the back.

Your son picks your pockets,

And you, you play the idiot!

For your unfaithful wife,

Hooray! Hooray!

And you do the dishes

Hooray! Hooray!

The circus is deserted,

Laughter is useless.

My clown is locked up

In some asylum.

Success in a straitjacket,

Cheers in a dark cell.

Hands that go crazy

And beat him with their song

I am the king, and I reign,

Hooray! Hooray!

I have laughter that bleeds,

Hooray! Hooray!

Come, cheer me,

I did my number,

I pushed my wife

From the top of the circus tent,

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

• Artist:Édith Piaf