Story behind the song
From the musical "TREES!" A mistral wind in Paris blows the bride Dancing Denise from her husband's arms to the top of the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris.
Lyrics
(sings)
AN IRON FENCE HAS CAPTURED ME
NOT A PLACE FOR A DANCING TREE.
THIS VICIOUS WIND THAT HOLDS ME FAST
MUST SOON DECREASE; FREE ME AT LAST
I KNOW NOT NOW JUST WHAT TO DO
(looks around) )
SO MAY AS WELL ENJOY THE VIEW
THE VISTA LENDS A VAST ARRAY
DOWN THERE, LOOK, THE CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES
CHORUS (O.S.)
(sings)
THE SIGHTS FROM THERE ARE REALLY GRAND
BUT DENISE WOULD PREFER HER MAN
DENISE
(sings)
THE PLACE DE LA CONCORDE NOT FAR
SEEMS ODD WITHOUT THE MOTORCAR
YON TOUR EIFFEL IS QUITE A SIGHT
PAST PARIS ROOFTOPS CREAMY WHITE
THIS ETOILE PLAN IS AVANT-GARDE
DIVERGING STREETS AND BOULEVARD
THE SEINE LOOPS ROUND BOIS DE BOULOGNE
LIKE THE EDGE OF SOME ANCIENT COIN
CHORUS (O.S.)
(sings)
THE SIGHTS FROM THERE ARE REALLY GRAND
BUT DENISE WOULD PREFER HER MAN
DENISE
(sings)
WHEN GALES DECLINE THEN WILL I FALL?
MY PLIGHT JUST MAKES NO SENSE AT ALL
OH, IS THAT JACQUES ALONE DOWN THERE?
YES, IT IS. I NOW SEE HIM CLEAR.
JACQUES, OH JACQUES, CAN YOU HEAR MY CRY?
IF YOU DON’T SAVE ME, I SHALL SURELY DIE
HE IS LOOKING ABOUT, BUT NOT UP HERE
JACQUES, IT’S DENISE; HELLO, DOWN THERE.
OUR LOVE WAS VERY SHORT BUT SWEET.
IN THAT BRIEF TIME, LIFE WAS COMPLETE.
I NOW PREPARE TO MEET MY FATE
WHEN SOON THESE HORRID WINDS ABATE.