| Mandolino City (original) | Mandolino City (translation) |
|---|---|
| Et deja, a l’ecole, | And already, at school, |
| c’etait une vraie passion | it was a real passion |
| pour tes grolles | for your chuckles |
| celles en cuir noir | black leather ones |
| avec des bours pointus | with pointed buds |
| Les coups et les embrouilles | The beatings and the scrambles |
| bistouille | bistouille |
| sans interet! | without interest! |
| Tu dansais en rentrant | You were dancing on the way home |
| par les trottoirs, a pinces | by the sidewalks, with pliers |
| Tu connais la musique | You know the music |
| Tu aimes pas que celle | You don't like that one |
| la belle, | the beautiful, |
| des Cafe-tabac parisiens | Parisian cafe-tabac |
| Si ta grand-mere est paysanne, | If your grandmother is a peasant, |
| tes pieds | your feet |
| ont resonne | have resonated |
| plus d’une fois | more than one time |
| sul’pave | sul'pave |
| des rues | streets |
| quand tu chantais | when you were singing |
| a tue-tete | loudly |
| des airs enroules | rolled up tunes |
| A Paris | In Paris |
| les italiens d’Auber | Auber's Italians |
| savent rigoler ferme | know how to laugh |
| et si Mandolino City | what if Mandolino City |
| passe par le bout de leurs levres | goes through their lips |
| ils vous la siffleront | they'll whistle it to you |
| ou vous le chanteront | or you will sing it |
| de tout leur coeur | with all their heart |
