Prince En Avignon (song)

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Album This song officially appears on the Post Card (UK version - Stereo) LP.

Timeline This song has been officially released in 1969

Timeline This song has been recorded in 1968

Song facts

“Prince En Avignon” is a French song written by Jean-Pierre Bourtayre, covered by many French-speaking artists over the years (Fabienne Thibeault, Michèle Torr, Mireille Mathieu…). Mary Hopkin recorded it on her 1969 album “Post Card” produced by Paul McCartney.

Also of note is ‘Prince En Avignon’, a mournful chanson about a would-be monarch without a castle, by Jean-Michel Rivat, who wrote for French singers such as Françoise Hardy and Jacques Dutronc.
From the liner notes of the 2010 reissue of “Post Card“

Oh. This is in French. My French is [terrible]. I’m not going to say anything about this one at all. Well… I loved the song before I did it. It’s the track I least like, but not because of the song, simply because I don’t like me on it. I shouldn’t say that, should I? I’ll put other people off, and I think maybe they should listen and decide for themselves. My mother loves that one. I don’t know why. I just know how my voice should sound. It’s my fault – nobody’s else’s fault.
Mary Hopkin – From New Musical Express, February 22, 1969

Last updated on September 26, 2021

Lyrics

Il était un prince en Avignon
Sans royaume, sans château, ni donjon
Là-bas tout au fond de la province
Il était un prince

Et l'enfant que j'étais
Cueillait pour lui bien des roses
En ce temps le bonheur était peu de choses

Il était un prince en Avignon
Sans royaume, sans château, ni donjon
Mais ces mots nous chantaient les campagnes
Des grands rois d'Espagne

Quand le soir descendait
On devenait spectateurs
Et la ville avec lui n'était plus qu'un coeur

Il nous emportait dans son empire
Nous attendrissait avec un sourire
Combien je l'aimais, combien je rêvais
Et puis vers ma ville je m'en retournais

Il était un prince en Avignon
Sans royaume, sans château ni donjon
Là-bas tout au fond de la province
Il était un prince
Un prince