I was seventeen in the Pigalle rain
Learned my trade from the older girls
They taught me smile through pain
Keep your soul when the world unfurls
Men came with money and shame
I took both — what else could I do?
Rue de la Soif, if we’re all the same
Thirsty for something we never knew
I had a daughter once — your eyes
Gave her to my sister, walked away
Some sacrifices don’t make you wise
Just someone who can’t stay
She’s forty now, teaches in Nice
Doesn’t know mama’s still alive
Rue de la Soif, if you buy your peace
One memory at a time you survive
And they ask me, “Don’t you have regrets?”
Mon Dieu, what a question
Regret’s for those who forget
I remember everything… and still exist
There was a boy — twenty-three, a student
Said he loved my soul, wanted to save me my soul
I laughed
“Baby, I’m already whole”
He came back once, wife on his arm
Pretended not to know my face
But I saw him remember in alarm
The woman who taught him grace
They write songs about girls like me
Make us tragic, make us pure
But we’re just women who chose to be
Honest about what we could endure
I never lied about the price
Never pretended love was free
Rue de la Soif, if you pay twice —
Once to them… and once to me
I walked through fire in cheap shoes
Danced with devils paid the rent
Lost everything I thought I’d lose
And here I stand — unrepentant
You want my tears? Sold them long ago
You want my shame? I gave it back
Rue de la Soif, this is what I know:
Survival is the only art I’ve mastered…
The street is still there
Different girls now
Same thirst
Same rain
I light a cigarette
Watch them
Becoming me…
Seventeen in the Pigalle rain
Learning to smile through the pain
Rue de la Soif, we’re all the same
All the same
All the same