Birkin was born to David Birkin and Judy Campbell, an actress in Noel Coward musicals. Her great aunt was Freda Dudley Ward, a mistress of Edward VIII while he was Prince of Wales.
Birkin emerged in the swinging '60s in London, starring as one of the models in the controversial film Blowup in 1966.
In 1968, Birkin went to France to audition for the lead female role in Slogan. Though she did not speak French, she got the role.
In 1969, she and Serge Gainsbourg released the song "Je t'aime... moi non plus" ("I love you... me neither"), written by Gainsbourg and featuring both of them singing, which caused a scandal for its sexual explicitness. Arguably due in part to the publicity it got from being banned by radio stations in Italy, Sweden, Spain, and the UK, it was a commercial success all over Europe. The song's fame is a result of its salacious lyrics (sung in French) against a background of female moaning and groaning, culminating in an orgasm at the song's conclusion (which some claim to be the result of Jane and Serge actually engaging in sex during the recording of the song).
Birkin took a short break from her acting career in 1971-72, but returned as Brigitte Bardot's lover in Don Juan (or if Don Juan were a woman) in 1973.
In 1975, she appeared in Gainsbourg's first film, also titled Je t'aime... moi non plus, which created quite a stir for its frank examination of sexual ambiguity. For this performance she was nominated for a Best Actress César Award.
Birkin has starred in the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun, and recorded several albums, including Baby Alone in Babylone, Amours des Feintes, Lolita Go Home and Rendez-vous. She has obtained in the category Female Artist of the year in France the Victoires de la Musique award in 1992 .
She starred in two films by Jacques Doillon — as Anne in La fille prodigue (1981) and as Alma in La pirate (1984, nominated for a César Award). This work led to an invitation from Patrice Chéreau to star on stage in La Fausse suivante by Marivaux at Nanterre. After this, she also began to appear frequently on stage in plays and concerts (in France, Japan, the UK and then the US).
Jacques Rivette collaborated with her for Love on the Ground (1983) and La belle noiseuse (1991, Nominated Césars best supporting actress). Additionally, she appeared in Merchant Ivory's A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries (1998, also used her song "Di Doo Dah") and Merci Docteur Rey (2002), while Le Divorce's end title song featured her singing "L'Anamour", composed by Serge Gainsbourg.
In 2006, she played Elektra, directed by Philippe Calvario in France.
Jane Birkin's humanitarian interests led her to work with Amnesty International, on immigrant welfare and AIDS issues. Birkin has also visited Bosnia, Rwanda. and Palestinian Territories, often working with children. She has been awarded an OBE for her services to acting, as well as the Ordre National du Mérite in France.
She made musical collaborations and duets with artists such as Feist, Beth Gibbons from Portishead, Bryan Ferry, Brian Molko from Placebo, Franz Ferdinand, Manu Chao, Brett Anderson from Suede, Mickey (3d), Françoise Hardy, Cali, The Divine Comedy, The Magic Numbers, Paolo Conte, Beck, Rufus Wainwright, Yann Tiersen, Alain Souchon, Les Negresses Vertes, Johnny Marr from The Smiths, Zazie, MC Solaar, Yosui Inoue, Étienne Daho, Alain Chamfort, Jimmy Rowles, Goran Bregović, Sonny Landreth, The Soundtrack of Our Lives and many others.
Birkin recorded the song "Beauty" on French producer Hector Zazou's 2003 album Strong Currents.
She is noted as being the inspiration for fashion house Hermès' popular Birkin Bag after the actress was seen struggling with several bags while boarding an aeroplane.
Her image features on the cover art of Have You Fed the Fish? by singer-songwriter Badly Drawn Boy (which features her daughter Charlotte Gainsbourg on backing vocals).
Despite decades of residence in France and the ability to speak French fluently, Birkin still retains a strong English accent and makes grammatical mistakes when speaking French.
Personal Life :
She was married from 1965 until 1968 to John Barry, an English composer who wrote the musical score to the James Bond movies. Their daughter, the photographer Kate Barry, was born in 1968.
Muse of Gainsbourg :
She had a very passionate and creative relationship with her mentor Serge Gainsbourg — they met on the set of Slogan and married in 1968. They separated in 1980. Their daughter is actress Charlotte Gainsbourg.
In 1982 she gave birth to her third daughter, Lou Doillon, from her relationship with the director Jacques Doillon.
Prends Cette Main
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fait un pansement autour et puis
Il faut lui apprendre
A se servir des doigts
On a coupé les ongles
Trop court une fois
Prends ces bras qui ont serré les maladresses des inconnus
Entoure ce corps qui a donné la vie
Avec les brassières de survie
Prends cette bouche et cogne les dents
Pousse un peu de toi dedans
Soulève les pulls, les jupes et les voiles
Je veux être devant toi à poil
Je veux connaître tes veines, tes bleus
Tes plis, ta nuque, voir tes cheveux
Dans tous les sens et upside down
Et endormie sentir le poids de ton, de ton corps qui pèse, qui pèse sur moi
Je veux sentir ton cœur reposé
Contre la cage
Qui enferme le mien
Oser être vue par toi demain
Les yeux bouffis
La main posée sur ta hanche la marque déposée
Veux-tu bien être mon dernier amour
C’est pas grave si pour toi
C’est pas grave
Si pour, si pour toi, si pour
Si pour, si pour
Toi c’est pas sûr
The song "Prends Cette Main" by Jane Birkin is a deeply personal and sensual piece that speaks about the physical and emotional intimacy between two lovers. The lyrics express the singer's desire to be completely known and accepted by her lover, to be exposed in every way possible. The first verse talks about a hand that has been well-used and needs to learn to use its fingers properly again. This can be interpreted as a metaphor for the singer herself, who has been through many experiences and wants to feel new again in the arms of her lover. The second verse talks about the desire to be naked and vulnerable, to be seen inside and out, and to feel the weight of the lover's body upon her. The singer also talks about wanting to know her lover's body equally well, with all its veins, bruises, and folds.
The chorus speaks about the desire to be seen by the lover the next day, even if it means being seen with puffy eyes and a mark on the hip. The song ends with the singer asking her lover to be her last love, even if he is unsure.
Overall, "Prends Cette Main" is a raw and intimate song that captures the essence of physical and emotional love, with all its beauty and imperfections.
Line by Line Meaning
Prends cette main qui a beaucoup servi
Take this hand that has been used a lot
Fait un pansement autour et puis
Make a bandage around it and then
Il faut lui apprendre
It's necessary to teach it
A se servir des doigts
To use the fingers
On a coupé les ongles
The nails have been cut too short
Trop court une fois
Too short once
Prends ces bras qui ont serré les maladresses des inconnus
Take these arms that have hugged the awkwardness of strangers
Entoure ce corps qui a donné la vie
Embrace this body that has given life
Avec les brassières de survie
With the life vests on
Prends cette bouche et cogne les dents
Take this mouth and clack the teeth
Pousse un peu de toi dedans
Push a bit of yourself inside
Soulève les pulls, les jupes et les voiles
Lift the sweaters, the skirts, and the veils
Je veux être devant toi à poil
I want to be naked in front of you
Je veux connaître tes veines, tes bleus
I want to know your veins, your bruises
Tes plis, ta nuque, voir tes cheveux
Your folds, your neck, see your hair
Dans tous les sens et upside down
In every direction and upside down
Et endormie sentir le poids de ton, de ton corps qui pèse, qui pèse sur moi
And asleep feeling the weight of your, your body pressing on me
Je veux sentir ton cœur reposé
I want to feel your peaceful heart
Contre la cage
Against my ribcage
Qui enferme le mien
Which encloses mine
Oser être vue par toi demain
Dare to be seen by you tomorrow
Les yeux bouffis
Puffy eyes
La main posée sur ta hanche la marque déposée
The hand placed on your hip, the imprint left
Veux-tu bien être mon dernier amour
Do you want to be my last love
C’est pas grave si pour toi
It's not a big deal if for you
C’est pas grave
It's not a big deal
Si pour, si pour toi, si pour
If for, if for you, if for
Si pour, si pour
If for, if for
Toi c’est pas sûr
It's not certain for you
Lyrics © KACHALOU
Written by: Jane BIRKIN, Philippe DE TRUCHIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind