‘la Complainte De La Butte’ – Rufus Wainwright

‘La Complainte de la Butte’ is a French song, originally written by Jean Renoir and Georges van Parys for Renoir’s film, ‘French Cancan’ (1955). The song immediately became a hit in 1950s France before becoming an all-time classic.

This version that we really like is by Rufus Wainwright for the 2001 film, ‘Moulin Rouge’. It is interesting to note that the original song was released before the film. Wainwright’s version, which incorporates both French and English lyrics, is about this quasi-mythical female figure who the singer often sees around La Butte in Montmartre.    

Wainwright’s soft, dulcet voice harmonises beautifully with the music to create a sweet and loving tone to the song. It perfectly captures the complex emotions of the protagonist in the film as he searches for this girl with the red hair around Montmartre.

The song is filled with great French references and vocabulary so have a listen and let us know what you think!

Discover more French music HERE.

Lyrics

La lune trop blême pose un diadème sur tes cheveux roux 
La lune trop rousse de gloire éclabousse ton jupon plein de trous 
La lune trop pâle caresse l’opale de tes yeux blasés 
Princesse de la rue soit la bienvenue dans mon coeur brise 

[Chorus:]
The stairways up to la butte 
Can make the wretched sigh 
While windmill wings of the moulin 
shelter you and I 

(Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux miséreux 
Les ailes du moulin protègent les amoureux)
Petite mandigote je sens ta menotte qui cherche ma main 
Je sens ta poitrine et ta taille fine 
J’oublie mon chagrin 
Je sens sur tes lèvres une odeur de fièvre de gosse mal nourri 
Et sous ta caresse je sens une ivresse qui m’anéantit 

[Chorus]

(Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux miséreux 
Les ailes du moulin protègent les amoureux)
Et voilà qu’elle trotte la lune qui flotte, la princesse aussi 
La da da da da da da da da da 
Mes rêves épanouis 
Les escaliers de la butte sont durs aux miséreux 
Les ailes du moulin protègent les amoureux

English Translation

The moon so pallid casts a diadem upon your red hair
The red moon so glorious splashes across your petticoat full of holes
The moon so pale caresses the white of your indifferent eyes
I welcome the princess of the street into my broken heart

[Chorus]
The stairways up to La Butte
Can make the wretched sigh 
While windmill wings of the moulin 
shelter you and I

(The stairways up to La Butte are hard on the wretched
The wings of the Moulin protect lovers)
My little beggar girl I can feel your hand searching for mine
I feel your breast and your thin waist
I forget my sorrow
I feel your lips a feverish smell of a malnourished child
And under your caress I feel an exhilaration wipe me out

[Chorus]

(The stairways up to La Butte are hard on the wretched
The wings of the Moulin protect lovers)
There she trots, the floating moon, a princess as well
La da da da da da da da da da 
My radiant dreams
The stairways up to La Butte are hard on the destitute
The wings of the Moulin protect lovers