Angels on the Rue Saint Denis
Many years ago, as a student, I found myself in Paris and wandered onto the Rue Saint Denis, at that time and maybe still today, one of the city's more notorious red light districts. Watching the activity on the street, I got the feeling that the seedy romance of the place and the individual stories playing out there would be good material for a song, and the lyric and melody of the first verse kind of formed in my head. It only took me fifty years to get around to finishing it.
I still have some work to do on the production, so all comments and suggestions at this stage are gratefully received.
https://soundcloud.com/themysteriousbeings/angels-on-the-rue-saint-denis
ANGELS ON THE RUE SAINT DENIS
She's out on the street tonight
She stands in the doorway
With her thighs of brazen white
Lips wrapped around a cigarette
And it's aye, aye, aye ,aye
(Angels) On the Rue St. Denis
Lonely tonight, it's alright, take a chance on me.
And she pirouettes on stiletto heels and smiles at him standing there.
He follows her in from the neon street and into a darkened stair.
Warm the breath on his skin
As she whispers, "Come on in."
He's out on the street tonight
New leather jacket.
She hands him the money
And he hands her a ticket to paradise
And it’s aye aye aye aye
(Angels) On the Rue St. Denis
She boards the train inside her vein to a place that she'd rather be
Where nothing matters and nothing hurts, nothing is anything
Her mother's embrace, a lover's face, she hears her sister sing.
She'll stay for a while
Safe behind her smile
He’s out on the street tonight
Shift started at seven.
He climbs the stair to where
They went to open their door to heaven
And it’s aye, aye, aye, aye
(Angels) On the Rue St. Denis
Siren blares and no one cares who she is or who she used to be
But the angel of death curses under his breath
Another one got away
And a man with a hole in his soul is left wishing
He’d said what he needed to say
The last time he’ll see
His angel of the Rue St. Denis.
The last time there’ll be
Angels on the rue St. Denis.
Copyright Gavin Sinclair 2025
Comments
-
@OnlyGavin beautiful sad song. Love it through and through and I love that you detailed the story on SoundCloud of where and who the story came from. And lucky you, having been to Paris! The many only dream of. Will be checking out more of your stuff on SoundCloud!
PS: just listened to your "I Give Up" This Conspiracy Realist will NOT hold it against you. LMAO! And then, gave it a like based upon its' creativity and humor.
Renee 💌
0 -
A happy tune for such a sad predicament.
Love the accordion......it is an accordion?
😎
0 -
Thanks for listening, Renee. Yes, I have some fun with the backstories of the songs and band members.😄
I've been to Paris many times, as I used to live not far away.
As for "I Give Up," I think the only way to approach politics in a song is as bemused observation of society and a dose of humor. There's lots to poke gentle fun at without being insulting. It's not as if a song is going to change anybody's mind.
0 -
Yes, it's an accordion. I wanted to give it a bit of a French feel.
And yes, I agree about the tune. If I was a better musician, this would sound like Springsteen's "Jungleland." 🙄
0 -
I wish I could have wandered around Paris , making up stories on seedy romances
Sounds good man , bravo on the accordion
0 -
Yep, the accordion definitely adds to the french vibe!
Lovely to hear one of your songs again, Gavin!
The internal rhyme on "And she pirouettes on stiletto heels" doesn't quite come off 100% because of the emphasis on the "o" at the end of stiletto. Needs to be stilettes. But I couldn't come up with anything better than you already have. It's a minor thing. I'm being picky.
I like how you're using "He/She's out on the street tonight" both to give it structure, and to switch scenes.
Have you tried it with one last finishing chord, rather than completely a cappella?
Lovely stuff. Enjoyed it.
0 -
What a refreshing song, and music, picked you up and dropped you right down in the street.
Lovely words that captured the essence of the red light district and the souls that inhabit those places.
A truely amazing song that I thank you for sharing with us.
Outstanding.
Sid
0 -
Gavin, you set the mood right away with the intro music, I was standing on the streets watching the story unfold from then on. You made me feel like I was there reading the minds of those angels, which is something I try to do when I'm in a crowd. Really enjoyed this.
0 -
Thanks Owen. You obviously listened closely to pick up on that almost internal rhyme :)
I'll think about your final chord idea, although I like the a cappella ending. I did consider a pause of a second and then bringing in the accordion again for a fade out ending, but decided it sounded cheesy!
0 -
Yep, a final chord may or may not work. One you'd need to try, and hear, before deciding - though maybe you already have!
0
Howdy, Stranger!