Dark Side of Paris

I lost my love, in the dark side of Paris

In the dirty underground of Paris
Tranquillizing music and the wine is cheap
But look around don't drink too much for you might see
What you can't touch! You can't touch!

In the darkest corner of the street
Eyes and faces that you cannot meet
When you think you've kept the pace
Then you find there's something you can't face, you can't face!

Though I never agreed to meet you
Though I never agreed to be there… I was there!

She was on the dark side of my mind
And she was on this dark side somewhere hard to find
I left her unkindly and now she's behind me
On the dark side of Paris… oh!

Dans les rues you don't what to do
You think that everyone can see through you
But being alone in this crowd will take you up
And tear you down! Tear you down!

Though I never agreed to meet you
Though I never agreed to be there… I was there!

She was on the dark side of my mind
And she was on this dark side somewhere hard to find
I left her unkindly and now she's behind me
On the dark side of Paris… oh!

Words and music by Peter Forrest

Year Written: Summer of 1986 (Montréal)
Date Recorded: 1988 (Foufounes électriques, Montréal, Québec CANADA)
Musicians: Peter Forrest (vocals and guitar), François Dubeau (bass), Danny-boy Schwartz (drums)

Song Notes: This song was originally written for my Montreal apartment's concierge "Rob Vigneault" who was also a Concordia University student. He loved the Vee Gates band and wanted me to write him a song to sing. I wrote it but he didn't like it. He said it was too hard to sing. Oh well, so I revised it and sang it myself added it to the Vee Gates' repertoire. François created an excellent bass riff to this song that impressed Pete to no end. It was perfect and rocking.

François recorded this song on an 8-track but the tape got busted so all that we have is this dodgy live version. This is a truly great song. It has an REM jangly guitar feel to the verse. The "dirty underground" line about Paris is definitely about the Edgar Allan Poe's story "Murders in the Rue Morgue" where he mentions the dirty streets of Paris. I even pop a French line in this song "dans les rues." The song was also performed live at the McGill Ballroom and Pete fakes dying on the stage at the end. Someone after who heard the song there said, I love that "Paree" song.

Note: One must sing the word "Paris" in French and it is pronounced "Paree." Pete also did a French translation to the song called "Le côté sombre de Paris" but it was lost.

Basic Guitar Chords:

Opening: Dm, A7, Dm
Verses: Dm, Dm/add C, Dm/add B, Dm/add C, etc...
Bridge: Dm, G, F, A7, Aaug5, A7 (2x)
Chorus: Dm, Bb, F, C (2x), Dm, Bb, C, F, Bb, C, C7