The music of the song J'ai deux amours was composed in 1930 by Vincent Scotto while its lyrics were written by Géo Koger and Henri Varna.
Vincent Scotto created this tune for Josephine Baker in view of the international colonial exposition which had to open in Paris, Porte de Vincennes, on 6 May 1931. Then, the French Colonial Empire was the subject of periodic celebrations and Josephine Baker’s particular status of a black citizen, born in the United States, as well as her sincere attachment to France, her adopted country, made her to stand out as a symbol and a true ambassador. This role became even stronger during the Second World War when she served in the Resistance, and subsequently in the air force as an officer...
When Josephine Baker, who, at that time, was already famous for having performed in music-hall shows and revues, sang J'ai deux amours on stage for the first time, her exotic charm and gorgeous voice immediately conferred resounding success on the song. About a dozen other singers - Alibert, Fred Gouin, Réda Caire, Mathé Altéry, Maria Candido, Zappy Max, Petula Clark, Tino Rossi, Jack Lantier and Viktor Lazlo - subsequently sang the song, but none of them was able to breathe life into it the way the unforgettable Josephine Baker did.
On dit qu'au delà des mers
Là-bas, sous un ciel clair,
Il existe une cité
Au séjour enchanté.
Et sous les grands arbres noirs,
Chaque soir,
Vers elle s'en va tout mon espoir.
R - J'ai deux amours,
Mon pays et Paris.
Pour eux toujours
Mon coeur est ravi.
Ma savane est belle,
Mais, à quoi bon le nier.
Ce qui m'ensorcelle
C'est Paris, Paris tout entier.
Le voir au jour,
C'est mon rêve joli.
J'ai deux amours
Mon pays et Paris.
Quand sur la rive, parfois,
Au lointain j'aperçois
Un paquebot qui s'en va,
Vers lui je tends les bras.
Et, le coeur battant d'émoi,
A mi-voix,
Doucement je dis : "Emporte-moi"...