TABLEAU DE PARIS A CINQ HEURES DU MATIN
Created on 22/12/2004Latest update on 27/01/2026
Artist: Renée Jean
Author: Marc-Antoine Désaugiers
Label: EPM
Year: 1950
Live au Lapin Agile, Montmartre's oldest café-cabaret. Written in 1802 to the tune of the 18th century contra-danse La Rosière. Dutronc's is a totally different song, apart from the subject and the last line: "Tout Paris s'éveille, allons nous coucher".
Covers:
- 1960:
Marc Et André [on Pacific; were specialized in traditional French repertoire like Frère Jacques, J'ai du bon tabac, Dans les prisons de Nantes, Ah! Vous dirai-je Maman and such]
- 1968:
Jacques Dutronc [more than just a few lyrical similarities in Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille; lyricists Jacques Lanzmann and Anne Segalen were indeed inspired by some of Désaugiers' toponymes (La Vilette), while his "épiciers, fruitières, écaillères et ramoneurs" made room for more up-to-date night people as "travestis, stripteaseuses, ouvriers déprimés et banlieusards"; flute: Roger Bourdin; released in May while Paris' streets were on fire, day and night]
- 1994:
- 2004:
An Pierlé [as Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille]
- 2008:
Rob de Nijs [as Parijs Ontwaakt]
Marc-Antoine Désaugiers was a royalist who fled to America during the French Revolution. Once back in Paris he became one of the first stars in vaudeville. None of his songs outlived him, apart from (part of) this title.
