La Javanaise
Chanson Plus Bifluorée Lyrics
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Paroles et Musique: Serge Gainsbourg 1963
J'avoue
j'en ai
Bavé
pas vous
mon amour
d'avoir
eu vent
de vous
mon amour-
ne vous déplaise
en dansant la Javanaise
nous nous aimions
le temps d'une chanson-
a votre
avis
qu'avons
nous vu
de l'amour
de vous
a moi
vous m'a-
vez eu
mon amour- hélas
avril
en vain
me voue
a l'amour
j'avais
envie
de voir
en vous
cet amour- la vie
ne vaut
d'être
vécue
sans amour
mais c'est
vous qui
l'avez
voulu
mon amour
La Javanaise by Chanson Plus Bifluorée is a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's 1963 song. The lyrics reflect on a romantic encounter between the singer and the object of their affection. The song opens with the singer confessing that they have suffered and pined for their love, asking if their love has felt the same. The singer then reminisces about the time they fell in love with their love interest while dancing the Javanaise, a Cuban dance popular in the 1920s. They reflect on the short-lived nature of their love, wondering what they actually saw in each other. In the end, the singer concludes that life is not worth living without love, and accepts that their amour was what they wanted.
The lyrics of "La Javanaise" are often regarded as a quintessential example of Gainsbourg's poetic style, which was marked by its wit, humor, and cynicism. The song was originally written for Juliette Gréco, a French singer and actress who was known for her emotional and sultry performances. However, it was Serge Gainsbourg who recorded the most famous version of the song, which has since become a French classic.
Line by Line Meaning
J'avoue
I confess
j'en ai
I have had
Bavé
a hard time
pas vous
not you
mon amour
my love
avant
before
d'avoir
having
eu vent
caught wind
de vous
of you
mon amour-
my love
ne vous déplaise
if you don't mind
en dansant la Javanaise
while dancing the Javanaise
nous nous aimions
we were in love
le temps d'une chanson-
for the duration of a song
a votre
in your
avis
opinion
qu'avons
what have we
nous vu
seen in each other
de l'amour
of love
de vous
of you
a moi
for me
vous m'a-
you had me
vez eu
for yourself
mon amour- hélas
my love, unfortunately
avril
April
en vain
in vain
me voue
I am devoted
a l'amour
to love
j'avais
I had
envie
the desire
de voir
to see
en vous
in you
cet amour- la vie
this love - life
ne vaut
is not worth
d'être
being
vécue
lived
sans amour
without love
mais c'est
but it is
vous qui
you who
l'avez
have wanted it
voulu
this way, my love
Contributed by Mila G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.