2. L'Accordéoniste

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Edith Piaf, from her mouth to your heart. From the lower depths of utter poverty to the very heights of international stardom. Her life and work explored in five songs. 2. L'Accordéoniste 1940-Paris, the Germans wore grey, Piaf wore black as the City of Light was conquered and occupied. Like so many artists she sang throughout the war as the 'crow on pedals' - the Swastika adorned streets and was stamped on all official documents. 'We felt nothing was permanent, that we were merely living day to day. Laughter was the only cover-up.' wrote Piaf's 'half sister' and intimate Simone Berteaut. Historian Catherine Franc examines Piaf's war story through the prism of L'Accordéoniste. Written in 1940 by Michel Emer. Legend has it that he appeared at Piaf's window in army uniform with the song, a deserter from the French army. Piaf would pay for his passage into Vichy, his true Jewish identity putting him at risk. But before he fled he offered her this song. Classic Piaf. A tale of a prostitute dreaming of being reunited with her accordionist lover who has been sent off to war. It would become her first million-seller and she would perform it for 20 years. Producer - Mark Burman A Whistledown Production for BBC Radio 3