Les Trois Cloches

[1] Edith Piaf recorded the song a cappella with the French vocal group Les Compagnons de la chanson in July 1946.

Lys Assia and Wolfgang Sauer both had a hit version in Germany titled "Wenn Die Glocken Hell Erklingen" in 1959.

[6] The song narrates the life of someone named Jean-François Nicot who lived in a small village at the bottom a valley, starting with his birth, followed by his marriage to Élise and ending with his death, events all marked by ringing of the church bells.

Les Compagnons performed traditional folk songs in close harmony, and Piaf, who first met the group in 1944, became interested in promoting their career.

[6] Jean Cocteau who was in attendance at their show wrote of them: "The miracle has happened that these two solitudes joined together to create a sound artefact which so expresses France that the tears start to flow.

"[9] Piaf and Les Compagnons recorded the song a cappella with an arrangement by group member Marc Herrand in July 1946.