Joe Le Taxi Lyrics in English Vanessa Paradis

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Joe Le Taxi by Vanessa Paradis from French to English.
Barbesse
Welcome to Joe's
Joe, the taxi, doesn't go everywhere
He doesn't run on soda
His yellow saxophone
Knows all the streets by heart
All the little bars
All the dark corners
And the Seine
And its shining bridges
In his car
The music for Joe
Is the rumba
The old mambo rock
Joe, the taxi, it's his life
Rum and mambo
Traffic jam
He's like that
Rum and mambo
Joe, Joe, Joe
In his car
The music for Joe resonates
It's the rumba
The old fake mambo rock
Go for it, Joe
Go for it, Joe
Go for it, rush
Into the night towards the Amazon
Joe, the taxi
And Xavier Cugat
Joe, the taxi
And Yma Sumac
Joe, Joe, Joe, Joe
Joe, the taxi, it's his life
Rum and mambo
Traffic jam
Joe, the taxi
And the mariachis
Joe, the taxi
And the cha-cha-chi
Joe, the taxi
And the cha-cha-chi
Go for it, Joe
Go for it, rush
Into the night towards the Amazon
Joe, the taxi
And the cha-cha-chi
Joe, the taxi
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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SONG MEANING

Hop in the bright yellow cab and meet Joe, the most music-loving taxi driver in Paris! In this catchy 80s hit, Vanessa Paradis paints the city’s nocturnal skyline through Joe’s windshield: glittering bridges over the Seine, smoky little bars hidden in narrow alleys, and endless traffic jams that turn into impromptu dance floors. Joe knows every shortcut and every secret corner of the capital, but what really sets him apart is the soundtrack pumping from his dashboard. From rumba to old-school rock and mambo, his cab becomes a rolling fiesta, proving that a good playlist can turn any ride into an adventure.

Beneath the playful rhythm, the song celebrates cultural crossroads and the joy of wandering. Joe’s love of Latin sounds name-drops stars like Xavier Cugat and Yma Sumac, sips of rhum, and dreams of the Amazon, blending Parisian streets with far-away tropics. The message is simple and uplifting: music and curiosity can take you anywhere, even if you never leave your driver’s seat. So buckle up, let the mariachis and cha-cha-chi fill the night air, and follow Joe as he cruises toward freedom, rhythm, and endless possibility.

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