Gainsbourg made her motion picture debut playing Catherine Deneuve's daughter in the film Paroles et musique (1984). In 1986, Gainsbourg won a César Award for "Most Promising Actress" for L'effrontée, and, in 2000, she won "Best Supporting Actress" for the film La Bûche.
Gainsbourg made her musical debut with her father on the song "Lemon Incest" in 1984. Two years later, she released her debut album Charlotte for Ever, which was produced by her father.
In 2007, Gainsbourg appeared alongside Gael Garcia Bernal in Michel Gondry's La Science des rêves and as Claire in the Todd Haynes directed Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There, also contributing a cover of the Dylan song "Just Like A Woman" to the film's soundtrack.
In 2006, Gainsbourg released her second album 5:55 to critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching the top spot on the French charts and achieving platinum status in the country. In the UK, the album was moderately successful, reaching #78 (The single The Songs That We Sing only made #129).
Gainsbourg has recently released her third studio album, IRM, which was produced by Beck. One of the influential factors in the album's creative process was her time spent filming Antichrist.
Charlotte For Ever
Charlotte Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Charlotte for ever)
Petit papa rêveur
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
À jamais dans mon cœur
Charlotte
Recherche d'un ever, more
Yes for ever (Charlotte for ever)
Tous les amours se meurent
Sans toi
Je suis plus moi
J'dérive à l'infini
Sens moi
Approche-toi, amour de ma vie
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Amour outsider
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
No leader, no dealer
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
De moi tu es l'auteur
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Es-tu à la hauteur?
Sans toi
Je n'suis plus moi
J'dérive à l'infini
Sens moi
Approche-toi
Amour de ma vie
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Pitié pour moi, mon cœur
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Tu as gagné, je pleure
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Papa, papa, j'ai peur
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
De goûter ta saveur
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Vu ni, vu ni couleur
Charlotte
(Charlotte for ever)
Détournement de mineure
(Charlotte for ever)
(Charlotte for ever)
Charlotte Gainsbourg's "Charlotte For Ever" is an ode to the artist's unique and at times complicated relationship with her father, French singer-songwriter Serge Gainsbourg. The song's opening lines, "Petit papa rêveur" (little dreaming father), set the tone for a touching and introspective exploration of the bond between parent and child. Charlotte's voice is tender and fragile as she sings "Charlotte à jamais dans mon cœur" (Charlotte forever in my heart), implying a sense of permanence and devotion to her father.
The lyrics of "Charlotte For Ever" also touch on the themes of loss and nostalgia. The line "Tous les amours se meurent" (All loves die) suggests that even the most enduring and profound of relationships come to an end eventually. This sentiment is reinforced in the chorus, in which Charlotte laments that she is adrift without her father's presence. Yet, she holds out hope that they will one day be reunited, singing "Approche-toi, amour de ma vie" (Approach me, love of my life).
Throughout the song, Charlotte walks a fine line between reverence for her father and a desire to break free from his shadow. She refers to their relationship as "amour outsider" (outsider love) and identifies herself as "no leader, no dealer." At the same time, she acknowledges that her father is the author of her being and questions whether she is "à la hauteur" (up to the task) of living up to his legacy. In the final verses, Charlotte's words take on a darker, more ambiguous tone as she alludes to taboos such as "détournement de mineure" (underage seduction) and "goûter ta saveur" (tasting your flavor).
Line by Line Meaning
Charlotte
The name Charlotte represents a person who will always have a special place in the singer's heart.
(Charlotte for ever)
The love and affection towards Charlotte will be forever, without any end.
Petit papa rêveur
The singer's father seems to have given her the trait of dreaming and aspiring for things.
À jamais dans mon cœur
Charlotte will always have a place in the singer's heart and memories.
Recherche d'un ever, more
The singer is looking for something that will last forever.
Yes for ever (Charlotte for ever)
The singer has found that never-ending love and affection in Charlotte.
Tous les amours se meurent
All other relationships and loves are bound to fade and die, unlike the love for Charlotte.
Sans toi
Without Charlotte
Je suis plus moi
The singer feels like they've lost themselves and not their true self without Charlotte.
J'dérive à l'infini
The singer feels lost and adrift without Charlotte's guidance.
Sens moi
Feel me or sense me
Approche-toi, amour de ma vie
The singer hopes for Charlotte to get close to them, as Charlotte is the love of their life.
Amour outsider
The love between Charlotte and the singer is unconventional.
No leader, no dealer
The relationship is not about power or control; there are no leaders or dealers.
De moi tu es l'auteur
Charlotte has a hand in the singer's life and their choices.
Es-tu à la hauteur?
The singer wonders if their expectations are too high for Charlotte.
Pitié pour moi, mon cœur
The singer is begging Charlotte to be gentle with their heart.
Tu as gagné, je pleure
Charlotte seems to have won the singer's heart completely and the singer is crying.
Papa, papa, j'ai peur
The singer seems scared and is calling out to their father.
De goûter ta saveur
The singer is hesitant to take part in something that might have a bad outcome.
Vu ni, vu ni couleur
The singer hasn't seen or heard of anything regarding what they are talking about.
Détournement de mineure
The singer hints towards a situation that isn't right or legal regarding minors.
(Charlotte for ever)
The love and affection towards Charlotte is eternal and forever.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg, Aram Iljitsch Khachaturian
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind