Jacques Higelin (born Jacques Joseph Victor Higelin on 18 October 1940 in B… Read Full Bio ↴Jacques Higelin (born Jacques Joseph Victor Higelin on 18 October 1940 in Brou-sur-Chantereine, Seine-et-Marne, France; died 6 April 2018 in Paris) was a French pop singer who rose to prominence in the early 1970s. Early in his career, many of Higelin's songs were effectively blacklisted from French radio because of his controversial left wing political beliefs, and his association with socialist groups. He and his wife, Kuelan, are the parents of three children, including musician Arthur H. and actor Ken Higelin.

Higelin's entertainment career began at age 14, when he left school to work as a stunt double. While playing a number of small roles in various motion pictures, Higelin was taught to play the guitar by Henri Crolla, an Italian film composer. By the early sixties, Higelin was attending the René Simon drama school, where he won the François Perier award.

For two years starting in 1961, Higelin served in the French military. Upon returning to France, he resumed his cinematic career, but increasingly began to focus on music over film. By the end of the decade, he was also very active in the artistic underground in Paris, and he began to channel his music towards radical militancy. He began attracting popular attention through his live concerts, typically held in smaller venues, and released his first solo album, in 1971. By the middle of the 1970s, Higelin had become one of France's most successful musicians, and he continued to be influential.

Mona Lisa Klaxon
Jacques Higelin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je n'connais qu'une fille qui se nomme Mona Lisa Klaxon
Elle vit dans une île entourée de crocodiles et de fantômes
Noire comme l'ébène, souveraine elle joue du trombone
Personne ne m'appelle aussi quand le téléphone sonne
Je sais que c'est

Mona Lisa Klaxon? Allô ça va?
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon? Comme ça

Mona Lisa Klaxon? Et toi?
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon je n'en peux plus
Danse, danse, remue pour moi au téléphone

Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa, Mona, Mona, Mona, Mona, Mona

Les soirs où Mona Lisa Klaxon a le cafard
Elle s'enferme dans la cuisine avec son grand léopard
Tandis qu'elle entre en transe tout en lui mordillant l'échine
De la jungle en démence monte cette incantation divine, divine

Mona Lisa Klaxon joue du trombone
Mona Lisa Klaxon sors ton trombone
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon trombone
Mona Lisa Klaxon je n'en peux plus
Je suis fou, fou, fou de toi
De la danse, de tes pas

Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon

Quand soudain derrière elle surgit le célèbre King-Kong
Il a la bave aux lèvres et la banane comme un canon
Dans les yeux fous du monstre passe une étrange lueur
Esclave de la danse, Mona ne l'a pas senti venir
Il va pour se saisir

Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon, de ton trombone
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon planques ton trombone
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon trombone
Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon
Et moi qui reste là pendu au téléphone
Ne coupez pas

Ne coupez pas
Oh, ne coupez pas

Overall Meaning

The song "Mona Lisa Klaxon" by Jacques Higelin tells the story of a girl named Mona Lisa Klaxon who lives on an island surrounded by crocodiles and ghosts. She is described as being black as ebony and sovereign, playing the trombone. The singer is aware of Mona Lisa Klaxon and sometimes receives phone calls from her. However, the lyrics are somewhat surreal and it is unclear whether Mona Lisa Klaxon is a real person or simply a product of the singer's imagination. The chorus of the song repeatedly calls out to Mona Lisa Klaxon and asks her to dance and play her trombone for the singer over the phone.

The second verse of the song takes a dark turn, as Mona Lisa Klaxon is described as having a leopard and entering into a trance while biting its spine. A divine incantation rises from this trance, and the song emphasizes once again the trombone playing of Mona Lisa Klaxon. Suddenly, the famous King Kong appears and Mona Lisa Klaxon does not notice him. The song ends with the singer pleading with Mona Lisa Klaxon not to hang up the phone as he remains on the line.

Overall, the lyrics of "Mona Lisa Klaxon" are dreamlike and surreal, depicting an otherworldly and mysterious figure in Mona Lisa Klaxon. The song is full of intriguing imagery and it is up to the listener to interpret what it all means.

Line by Line Meaning

Je n'connais qu'une fille qui se nomme Mona Lisa Klaxon
I only know one girl named Mona Lisa Klaxon

Elle vit dans une île entourée de crocodiles et de fantômes
She lives on an island surrounded by crocodiles and ghosts

Noire comme l'ébène, souveraine elle joue du trombone
Black as ebony, she reigns while playing the trombone

Personne ne m'appelle aussi quand le téléphone sonne
No one else calls me when the telephone rings

Je sais que c'est Mona Lisa Klaxon? Allô ça va?
I know it's her Mona Lisa Klaxon? Hello, how are you?

Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon? Comme ça
Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon? Like this

Mona Lisa Klaxon? Et toi?
Mona Lisa Klaxon? And you?

Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon je n'en peux plus
Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon, I can't take it anymore

Danse, danse, remue pour moi au téléphone
Dance, dance, move for me on the phone

Les soirs où Mona Lisa Klaxon a le cafard Elle s'enferme dans la cuisine avec son grand léopard
On the nights when Mona Lisa Klaxon is down She locks herself in the kitchen with her big leopard

Tandis qu'elle entre en transe tout en lui mordillant l'échine De la jungle en démence monte cette incantation divine, divine
As she goes into a trance while nibbling on its spine A divine incantation rises from the insane jungle, divine

Mona Lisa Klaxon joue du trombone Mona Lisa Klaxon sors ton trombone Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon trombone Mona Lisa Klaxon je n'en peux plus Je suis fou, fou, fou de toi De la danse, de tes pas
Mona Lisa Klaxon plays the trombone Mona Lisa Klaxon bring out your trombone Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon trombone Mona Lisa Klaxon, I can't take it anymore I'm crazy, crazy, crazy about you About your dance, your steps

Quand soudain derrière elle surgit le célèbre King-Kong Il a la bave aux lèvres et la banane comme un canon Dans les yeux fous du monstre passe une étrange lueur Esclave de la danse, Mona ne l'a pas senti venir Il va pour se saisir
When suddenly behind her appears the famous King Kong Drool on his lips and a banana like a cannon A strange light passes through the monster's crazy eyes Enslaved by the dance, Mona didn't see him coming He's about to grab her

Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon, de ton trombone Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon planques ton trombone Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon trombone Ô Mona Lisa Klaxon Et moi qui reste là pendu au téléphone Ne coupez pas Ne coupez pas Oh, ne coupez pas
Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon, with your trombone Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon, hide your trombone Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon, trombone Oh Mona Lisa Klaxon And me who stays hanging on the phone Don't hang up Don't hang up Oh, don't hang up

Lyrics © EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: Simon Boissezon, Jacques Higelin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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