Hinky dinky parley-vous?”
The way they sang this song was for one man to solo the verse part and everyone join in the “parley-vous” part. When it once got going, it went on forever, the crowd joined in to swell the chanting “parley-vous” and as soon as one soloist ran out of verses, someone else took over the lead, and on it went. There was something about it that got you: you couldn’t help but hum along with the melody, and if it continued long enough you found your eyes closing and your senses slipping off into a lull of sleep.
So it was this evening. The Captain broke in once to remark that he had heard at least a hundred verses to that song and I replied that I guessed there was a verse for every town in France and a few extra; then we just had another drink and were content to listen to this Song of the Cities of France.
I couldn’t begin to remember all the variations that we heard that night, but here are some of them:
“Mademoiselle from the city of Vichy,
Just like the liquor that makes you feel itchy!”
“Mademoiselle from the Côte d’Or—
The Old Gray Mare ain’t the same no more!”
“Mademoiselle from Châteauroux—
Enough for her is too much for you!”