Free Man In Paris by Joni Mitchell The way I see it he said You just cant win it Everybodys in it for their own gain You cant please em all Theres always somebody calling you down I do my best And I do good business Theres a lot of people asking for my time Theyre trying to get ahead Theyre trying to be a good friend of mine I was a free man in Paris I felt unfettered and alive There was nobody calling me up for favors And no ones future to decide You know Id go back there tomorrow But for the work Ive taken on Stoking the star maker machinery Behind the popular song I deal in dreamers And telephone screamers Lately I wonder what I do it for If l had my way Id just walk through those doors And wander Down the Champs Elysées * Going cafe to cabaret Thinking how Ill feel when I find That very good friend of mine I was a free man in Paris I felt unfettered and alive Nobody was calling me up for favors No ones future to decide You know Id go back there tomorrow But for the work Ive taken on Stoking the star maker machinery Behind the popular song © 1973; Crazy Crow Music Additional information: *Footnotes Champs Elysées The Champs Elysées (Elysian fields) were originally nothing but fields, until Marie de Medicis decided in 1616 to put up a long tree-lined pathway. In 1667, Le Notre extended the vista of the Tuileries and the Champs-Elysees became a very fashionable place to walk. In 1724, the avenue was extended up to Chaillot hill, now the site of the Arc de Triomphe and the Etoile. The actual avenue of the Champs-Elysées did not become city property until 1828, when they added footpaths and fountains. They also added gas lighting at this time. Today, the Champs Elysées is one of the most famous streets in the world, with its cinemas, cafés, and luxury specialty shops. This special status made it the site of much growth and activity. At the very heart of Paris, it is one of the most symbolic places in the city, representative of its spirit and glory. The glamour of the Champs-Élysées, particularly its upper end, may not be quite what it was, dominated as it is by airline offices, car showrooms, and bright, light shopping arcades. But theres still the Lido cabaret, Fouquets high-class bar and restaurant, and plenty of cinemas and outrageously priced cafes to bring the punters in. At Christmas this is where the fairy lights go, and on December 31 everyone happily jams in, in their cars, to hoot in the New Year. The new landscaping project has removed the avenues side lanes where cars used to prowl in search of parking spaces, and now pedestrians have an equal share of the avenues width, with shade from more trees. cultural centers, deluxe hotels and other activities that participate in the tradition and prestige of the Champs-Elysees are encouraged to return by the municipality. The stretch between the Rond-Point roundabout - whose Lalique glass fountains disappeared during the German occupation -and Concorde is bordered by chestnut trees and municipal flower beds, pleasant enough to stroll among, but not sufficiently dense to muffle the squeal of accelerating tyres. The two massive buildings rising above the greenery to the south are the Grand and Petit Palais, with their overloaded Neoclassical exteriors, rail station roofs and exuberant flying statuary. They house a number of museums and the Grand Palais is the address for major cultural exhibitions, curtailed at the moment due to major restoration works. On the north side, combat police guard the high walls round the presidential Elysee palace and the line of ministries and embassies ending with the US in prime position on the corner of place de la Concorde. On Thursdays and at weekends you can see a stranger manifestation of the self-images of states in the postage stamp market at the corner of avenues Gabriel and Marigny.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:19:47 +0000
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