Complainte De La Butte

The song presents a meeting between a struggling man and a woman he calls a street princess. He welcomes her into his “broken heart,” suggesting that he is lonely or grieving. Their touch brings him comfort and a rush of pleasure, and for a moment he says his sorrow fades. The mood moves between hardship and tenderness: the lovers find a brief shelter together, even though their lives remain difficult.

The moon is described as placing a crown on her red hair, making her seem royal despite her worn clothing. This contrast gives her dignity and beauty without hiding her poverty. The steep stairs are said to be hard on the poor, while the windmill’s wings shelter the lovers. These images suggest that the climb of life can be exhausting, but love offers a small, temporary refuge. His mention of her hunger and feverish smell also points to physical need and vulnerability, not just romance.

The ending feels dreamlike: the moon seems to move, the woman trots away, and the speaker’s dreams appear fulfilled. This may express a moment of joy more than a lasting change in their circumstances. The lyrics do not tell us whether the encounter is a real relationship, a passing comfort, or an idealized fantasy. The song holds both ideas at once: tenderness can matter deeply, even when it cannot remove poverty or sorrow.