This is a 1913 Realist song composed by Vincent Scotto, written by Jean Rodor and recorded by the French singer Georgel.
It was translated into English in 1952 by Dorcas Cochran and recorded by Eartha Kitt and Dean Martin.
And recorded by several French artists: Georgel (1913), Lucienne Delyle (1939), Juliette Greco, Colette Renard, Tino Rossi, les Compagnons de la Chanson, Zizi Jeanmaire, Francis Lemarque and Zaz, amongst many others.
It carries a strong message about social inequalities in Paris at the time. Describing people enjoying the river’s embankment during the day, paupers finding shelter under the bridges at night, and working-class lovers who cannot afford a hotel room, hiding under the bridges to consume their love.
This version is a cleaned-up version by Lucienne Delyle.
But in the original, the homeless making a bed for the night was a mother of 3 children finding refuge for herself and her children.
The last verse, which has been removed in this version, stated:
“Si l’on aidait un peu tous les vrais miséreux (If we could give some help to the genuine paupers)
Plus de suicid’s ni de crim’s dans la nuit” (No more suicide or crimes at night)
Some expressions in context:
“Pendant le jour, (During the day)
suivant son cours (Flowing smoothly)
Tout Paris en bateau défile” (The whole of Paris parades by boat)
La riviere suit son cours (The river follows its course). As the song portrays the more glamorous side of the city during the day, flowing smoothly would better fit the translation.
“Toutes sortes de gueux” is an old fashion french word for paupers or tramps.
“À la sortie de l’usine” translates literally as at the exit of the factory. But la sortie d’usine ou la sortie d’école is used in French to indicate that the school day or the working day is over.
“C’est ta fête aujourd’hui” literally translates as “this is your party today. It is used in French in different ways and could mean “It’s your treat or It’s your lucky day”, or in terms of being told off or beaten up “, You’re in it now”
Pour aller à Suresnes
ou bien à Charenton
Tout le long de la Seine
on passe sous les ponts
Pendant le jour, suivant son cours
Tout Paris en bateau défile
L’cœur plein d’entrain,
ça va, ça vient
Mais l’soir
lorsque tout dort tranquille
Sous les ponts de Paris,
lorsque descend la nuit
Toutes sortes de gueux
se faufilent en cachette
Et sont heureux
de trouver une couchette
Hôtel du courant d’air,
où l’on ne paie pas cher
L’parfum et l’eau
c’est pour rien mon marquis
Sous les ponts de Paris
À la sortie de l’usine,
Julot rencontre Nini
Ça va t’y la rouquine,
c’est ta fête aujourd’hui
Prends ce bouquet,
ce brin d’muguet
C’est peu mais
c’est toute ma fortune
Viens avec moi, j’connais l’endroit
Où l’on n’craint même pas
le clair de lune
Sous les ponts de Paris,
lorsque descend la nuit
Comme il n’a pas de quoi
s’payer une chambrette
Un couple heureux vient s’aimer en cachette
Et les yeux dans les yeux,
faisant des rêves bleus
Julot partage les baisers de Nini
Sous les ponts de Paris
Julot partage les baisers de Nini
Sous les ponts de Paris
To get to Suresne
or to Charanton
all along the Seine,
we pass under the bridges.
During the day, flowing smoothly
all of Paris parades by boat
the heart full of joy.
It comes and goes
but in the evening
when most sleep peacefully
Under the bridges of Paris
when the night falls.
All kinds of paupers
slip in
and are happy
to find a spot to bed down
Hotel of the Draft
where you don’t spend much,
perfume and water
are free of charge, my Lord!
under the bridges of Paris
Coming out of the factory
Julo meets Nini
How goes it, my Redhead
it’s your lucky day today
Take this bouquet
this sprig of lily of the valley
it is not much but
it’s the whole of my fortune
come with me, I know the place
where you won’t even fear
the dusk
Under the bridges of Paris
when the night falls.
As he doesn’t have enough
to buy a hotel room,
a couple arrives to love each other
in secret
and gaze at each other
making wild dreams
Julot shares Nini’s kisses
under the bridges of Paris.
Julot kisses Nini
under the bridges of Paris
Between the French lyrics 
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