About The Song
John Denver’s “A Country Girl in Paris” isn’t just a song about a Southern belle waltzing under the Eiffel Tower. It’s a delicate narrative spun from the threads of longing, displacement, and the enduring dream of home. Released in 1988 on his album “Higher Ground,” the song paints a bittersweet portrait of a young woman navigating the stark contrast between her rural Tennessee roots and the glittering, fast-paced world of Paris.
The song’s inspiration is close to Denver’s heart. In the early 1980s, he relocated to France with his then-wife Annie. While embracing Parisian life, he witnessed firsthand the culture clash experienced by American expatriates. This empathy for the protagonist, Susie, shines through in his lyrics. We glimpse her gazing at the Seine, moonlight reflecting memories of Nashville rain in her tear-filled eyes. The city lights and cafĂ© chatter hold little solace for her heart, which aches for fireflies and porch swings.
Yet, Denver doesn’t paint Paris as a villain. Its romance and energy seep into the melody, reminding us that Susie’s journey is multifaceted. There’s a hint of wonder in her Parisian stroll, a spark of adventure coexisting with her nostalgia. Maybe, the song suggests, home isn’t just a place, but a melody carried within us, adaptable to new rhythms yet ever-present.
“A Country Girl in Paris” transcends geographical boundaries. It’s a universal ode to anyone who’s ever felt rootless, torn between the familiar and the unknown. Denver’s gentle acoustic guitar whispers reassurance, reminding us that even amidst displacement, a piece of home always finds its way, be it in the quiet moments of reflection or the unexpected beauty of a new landscape. So, prepare to embark on Susie’s journey, where Parisian cobblestones meet Tennessee backroads, and where hearts sing with both heartache and the quiet promise of finding belonging, wherever you may roam.
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Lyrics
A country girl in Paris, moonlight on the SeineMemories of Tennessee, Nashville in the rainIt’s such a contradiction, a heart that’s filled with painA country girl in Paris, dreamin’ Nashville in the rainShe walks along the boulevard, Champs AlyseeThinks about a country boy three thousand miles awayPride is such a hard thing, it’s such a price to payTo be all alone in Paris with true love so far awayUp upon Mont Martre when she stops to rest awhileAll the artists look at her and they long to paint her smileFor even in her sorrow there’s something in her eyesThat makes the young men jealous, makes the old men sighThey say the loss of innocence is always linked to painFor once the heart is opened nothing ever is the sameAnd so the evening lends itself to lovers and romanceThe way to heal a broken heart is to give true loveOne more chanceA country girl in Paris, moonlight on the SeineMemories of Tennessee, Nashville in the rainIt’s such a contradiction, a heart that’s filled with painA country girl in Paris, dreamin’ Nashville in the rainA country girl in Paris, longing for Nashville in the rain.