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.
Le Chat Du Caf
Charlotte Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come and gone
My rum coco
My cold empty
Shake, shake
Sugaree
Shoo, shoo fly
Don't come back again
X-X the eyes
C-C Rider riding
On the morning tide
To the fall horizon
Sic, sic the wolves
And hope it don't get ugly
A trick pony
He don't know me
He don't know me at all
Knock, knock
Go away
Pull the trigger
And see your shadow laughing
Transatlantic
There's no one there
It's no cold comfort
With your conscience calling
X-X the eyes
C-C Rider riding
On the morning tide
To the fall horizon
Sic, sic the wolves
And hope it don't get ugly
A trick pony
He don't know me
He don't know me at all
Charlotte Gainsbourg’s “Le Chat Du Cafe” is a song that borders on the surreal and ethereal. Its lyrics seem disjointed and unconnected, yet they blend together smoothly to paint a vivid picture in the listener's mind. The song starts with the singer, perhaps in a state of despair or sadness, calling out to the train that has left, taking with it her beloved “rum coco” and leaving behind a “cold empty”. She then urges the sugary sweetness to come back and “shake, shake”. But despite her pleas, she wants the fly to “shoo, shoo” and not come back again.
The chorus then picks up with X-X the eyes, and C-C Rider riding on the morning tide, headed to the fall horizon. It seems like the singer is speaking about herself, using a third-person narrative. She also refers to the wolves, perhaps alluding to the challenges she faces in her life, but she hopes that they don’t get ugly. The song continues with the singer revealing that she is a “trick pony,” and the other person doesn’t know her at all. The song's meaning is interpreted in many ways, and it can be about love, loss, life's journey, or mental health struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Train, train
A symbolic call for a journey, either physical or psychological.
Come and gone
An acknowledgment of the fleeting nature of existence.
My rum coco
A reference to a comforting beverage or routine that provides solace in difficult times.
My cold empty
An acknowledgement of emotional emptiness or an absence in one's life.
Shake, shake
An expression of vulnerability or nervousness in the face of hardship.
Sugaree
A sweet, possibly nostalgic reference to a past happiness or ideal.
Shoo, shoo fly
A command to dispel an annoyance or distraction.
Don't come back again
A request for freedom from a negative influence or experience.
X-X the eyes
An expression of vigilance and caution.
C-C Rider riding
A metaphor for one's journey through life or through a particular experience.
On the morning tide
A reference to the cyclical nature of the passage of time.
To the fall horizon
An acknowledgement of the inevitability of change and the cyclical nature of the seasons.
Sic, sic the wolves
A warning to be wary of danger or negative influences.
And hope it don't get ugly
An expression of anxiety or fear in the face of possible negative outcomes.
A trick pony
A derogatory term for a person or situation that is unreliable or difficult to handle.
He don't know me
An acknowledgement of one's own emotional complexity or depth, which others may not fully understand or appreciate.
Knock, knock
A reference to the classic joke format of a knock-knock joke, possibly implying a mocking or cynical tone.
Go away
A command for someone or something unwanted to leave.
Pull the trigger
An expression of a desire to take drastic action or make a decision with significant consequences.
And see your shadow laughing
A reference to the feeling of being mocked or judged by others, even in moments of vulnerability or crisis.
Transatlantic
A reference to distance or separation, particularly between people or places.
There's no one there
An acknowledgement of loneliness or the feeling of being isolated from others.
It's no cold comfort
An acknowledgement that although a situation may be bearable, it is still unsatisfying or unfulfilling.
With your conscience calling
A reference to the internal conflict and ethical considerations that may arise in difficult decision-making.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
alyas
Quand on est mort c'est qu'on est mort
Quand on ne rit plus c'est qu'on ne vit plus
Quand j'aurai coupé la ficelle
Mettez-moi dans une poubelle
Laissez-moi faisander un mois
Et de là jetez-moi au chat
Qu'il refuse ma rate et mon foie
Mais choissez l'heure pour qu'il me mange le c ur
Et je reste encore avec vous
Sur vos épaules et vos genoux
Que je sois puiqu'il faut qu'on existe
Le Chat Du Café Des Artistes
Et si le pain vient à manquer
Je serai là et n'hésitez pas
Brisez-moi les pattes et le cou
Et puis mangez-moi à même le chat
Ce ne sera pas la première fois
Qu'on aura mangé un artiste
:
Quand on est mort c'est qu'on est mort
Quand on ne rit plus, c'est que'on ne vit plus
Quand il a coupé la ficelle
On l'a mis dans une poubelle
Et puis ils m'ont oublié là
Là là là là là là là là
Comme ils ont oublié le chat
Comme ils oublieront ma tête et mes chansons
Ce ne sera pas la dernière fois
Que l'on oubliera un artiste
Et puis ils m'ont oublié là
Là là là là là là là là x2
Gardenia Malheur
Charlotte's version is sublime. Here's the original from singer-composer Jean-Pierre Ferland, from his outstanding 1970 avant-garde album JAUNE. Hasn't aged a minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkileyX032M
It was recorded at Andre Perry's infamous Morin Heights Le Studio, where Bowie and The Police also recorded.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Studio
Nina Danaë
Ah, I just will never get tired of this song, the lyrics are perfect.
Laurène Alban
Perfect, that's the word! So poetic, so metaphorical!
Razielle
La primera vez que escuché esta canción tenía todas las luces de mi casa apagadas.
Albertine No
Deepest condoleances goes to you and all that cherish and honor your wonderful mum's memory. May her soul travels in peace om
Scotty Russell Music
Great track. I love the James Bond-esque strings. She has no bad music, it's all good. Bravo!
FACE2FACE
Ce track avec un petit touche tragique, dissonant ouvre une porte sensuel 💐 Bravo! Merci
Gabriel Despres
psychose sensuelle
Mats Eddy Jambon
Cette chanson a vraiment quelque chose d'addictive. Je l'ai découvert part hasard en écoutant la radio et depuis ce temps là, j'arrête pas de l'écouter.
Il y a quelque chose de tragique et dramatique à la fois mais la douceur de la voix vient équilibrer le tout.
vidrequin laurence
melodie nelson