La Javanaise
Anna Mouglalis Lyrics

The lyrics of Anna Mouglalis' song La Javanaise are a bittersweet melody about a love affair that was passionate, but didn't last. The first stanza opens with the question "J'avoue j'en ai bavé, pas vous, mon amour?" (I admit it, I've struggled, haven't you, my love?), which suggests that the singer has experienced some difficulty in the relationship. The subsequent lines reveal that before meeting this person, they were unaware of their existence. However, once they danced to the Javanaise, they fell in love. The Javanaise is a dance genre that originated in the 1920s as a fusion of samba and French cabaret music. The singer implies that the relationship was ephemeral, lasting only as long as the song they danced to.

The second stanza continues with the theme of fleeting love, as the singer asks "À votre avis qu'avons-nous vu de l'amour?" (In your opinion, what did we see of love?) It is implied that not a lot was seen, but in the following line, the singer concedes that the other person had them under their spell. Again, the Javanaise is mentioned, and we can infer that it was more significant than just a song to dance to; it was the catalyst for their love.

The third stanza reminisces about nostalgic Aprils hoping that she might find the love she was looking for, and indeed she did, if only temporarily. Here, the singer seems to blame the other person for not continuing the relationship. She acknowledges that life is not worth living without love, but ultimately concludes that it was the other person who wanted their love to end. The song's evocative theme of (Javanaise) dance music as the backdrop for ephemeral love is a tribute to French cabaret culture.

Some interesting facts about the song: