Released in 1955, “The Poor People of Paris (Jean’s Song)” is an instrumental guitar piece by Chet Atkins.
It’s not an original composition by Atkins. The song is an adaptation of a French tune titled “Le Pauvre Peuple de Paris” by Marguerite Monnot.
Themes
While the original French lyrics likely dealt with the struggles of the working class in Paris, Atkins’ instrumental version lacks lyrics and focuses on melody.
The melancholic and gentle fingerpicking guitar style evokes a sense of longing and nostalgia, perhaps reflecting on the plight of the poor or a lost love named Jean (based on the alternate title).
Availability
You can find recordings of Atkins’ “The Poor People of Paris (Jean’s Song)” on platforms like YouTube ([YouTube Chet Atkins Poor People of Paris])
Finding the Lyrics
It’s important to note that Atkins’ version is instrumental and doesn’t have lyrics.
If you’re interested in the lyrics of the original French song by Marguerite Monnot, you might need to search for the French title “Le Pauvre Peuple de Paris”.
