La complainte des filles de joie [English translation]

Although these callous bourgeois

Although these callous bourgeois

call them the jolly toms1

call them the jolly toms,

their days are hardly full of fun.

indeed, indeed

their days are hardly full of fun.

For even with their tarty feet2

For even with their tarty feet

walking all day along the streets

walking all day along the streets

that's quite a strain on the pins

indeed, indeed

that's quite a strain on the pins.

Not only have they corns

Not only have they corns

and all kinds of sores3, but besides

and all kinds of sores, but besides

they wear down quite a lot of shoes

indeed, indeed

they wear down quite a lot of shoes.

There are patrons, some real bastards

There are patrons, some real bastards

who never dip into water.

who never dip into water.

They still have to cuddle them

indeed, indeed

they still have to cuddle them,

to give them a leg up

to give them a leg up

to reach the Seventh Heaven.

to reach the Seventh Heaven.

They sure do earn their money

indeed, indeed

they sure do earn their money.

The public despises them,

The public despises them,

the cops rough them up

the cops rough them up

and the clap4 threatens them

indeed, indeed

the clap threatens them.

Though they make love all day

Though they make love all day

and get married a dozen times

and get married a dozen times

they never enjoy the party

indeed, indeed

they never enjoy the party.

You son of an oaf and a dimwit

You son of an oaf and a dimwit

don't you laugh at poor Venus,

don't you laugh at poor Venus,

at the poor old laughing stock

indeed, indeed

at the poor old laughing stock.

You didn't miss by much, my friend

You didn't miss by much, my friend

being the son of this whore,

being the son of this whore,

the very whore you're laughing at

indeed, indeed

the very whore you're laughing at.

1. lit "ladies of joy/pleasure" but, though a bit dated, the expression is still much more common than in English2. "faire le pied de grue" also means "cooling one's heels", and "grue" is dated slang for "whore". Could also mean "the base of a crane" in a technical sense, but I don't think that pun is intended here!3. "oeil-de-perdrix"(grouse eye) is a synonym of "cor"(corn), but winks to "pieds de grue"(crane foot)4. technically that's syphilis, but "vérole" is more rude

• Artist:Georges Brassens