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.
pull marine
Jane Birkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dans l'petit pull marine
Tout déchiré aux coudes
Qu'j'ai pas voulu recoudre
Que tu m'avais donné
J'me sens tellement abandonnée
Y a pas qu'au fond d'la piscine
Tu les avais r'pérés
Sans qu'il y ait un regard
Et t'avais rappliqué
Maintenant, je paie l'effet retard
Avant de toucher le fond
Je descends à reculons
Sans trop savoir c'qui se passait dans le fond
C'est plein d'chlore au fond de la piscine
J'ai bu la tasse, tchin tchin
Comme c'est pour toi, je m'en fous
J'suis vraiment prête à tout
T'avaler, que m'importe
Si l'on me trouve à moitié morte
Noyée au fond d'la piscine
Personne ne te voyait
Sous mon p'tit pull marine
M'enlacer, j't'embrassais
Jusqu'au point de non-retour
Plutôt limite de notre amour
Avant de toucher le fond
Je descends à reculons
Sans trop savoir c'qui se passait dans le fond
Viens vite au fond d'la piscine
Repêcher ta p'tite sardine
L'empêcher de se noyer
Au fond d'toi, la garder
Petite soeur traqueuse
De l'air de ton air amoureuse
Si nous deux, c'est au fond dans la piscine
La deux des magazines
Se chargera d'notre cas
Et je n'aurai plus qu'à
Mettre des verres fumés
Pour montrer tout c'que je veux cacher
Retrouve-moi au fond d'la piscine
Avant qu'ça m'assassine
De continuer sans toi
Tu peux compter sur moi:
J'te r'ferai plus l' plan d'la star
Qui a toujours ses coups de cafard
J'ai touché le fond d'la piscine
Dans ton p'tit pull marine
The lyrics of Jane Birkin's song "Pull Marine" explore themes of love, abandonment, and self-discovery through the imagery of a swim in a pool. In the first verse, the singer describes reaching the bottom of the pool while wearing a torn navy blue sweater, symbolizing vulnerability and emotional pain. The sweater was a gift from someone significant, possibly a lover, who made her feel abandoned. This sense of abandonment is emphasized by the singer feeling lost and alone.
The second verse delves deeper into the emotional impact of the relationship, as the singer reflects on how her eyes, which are also navy blue, were noticed and pursued by the other person without a meaningful connection. The mention of paying the "effet retard" (delayed effect) suggests the consequences of their actions are now catching up with them. The singer descends into the depths of the pool metaphorically, unsure of what lies beneath the surface of their relationship.
As the lyrics progress, the singer describes the chlorine-filled pool water metaphorically as she feels overwhelmed by her emotions and ready to do anything for this person, even if it means risking her own well-being. This self-destructive behavior highlights the depths of her feelings and the intensity of the connection, even if it is ultimately harmful.
In the final verse, the singer calls for the other person to come and save her from drowning in her emotions, referring to herself as a "little sardine" that needs rescue. The mention of being a mirror image of the other person in love and the need to hide behind "smoked glasses" suggests a desire to keep their true feelings concealed from the public eye. The plea for the other person to return before it's too late showcases the singer's vulnerability and longing for reconciliation.
Overall, "Pull Marine" paints a complex portrait of a tumultuous relationship filled with passion, abandonment, and a longing for connection. The pool serves as a metaphor for the deep emotional waters they navigate together, ultimately leaving the singer grappling with feelings of loss, love, and self-preservation.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai touché le fond d'la piscine
I hit rock bottom in the swimming pool
Dans l'petit pull marine
In the little navy sweater
Tout déchiré aux coudes
All torn at the elbows
Qu'j'ai pas voulu recoudre
That I didn't want to sew up
Que tu m'avais donné
That you had given me
J'me sens tellement abandonnée
I feel so abandoned
Y a pas qu'au fond d'la piscine
It's not just at the bottom of the pool
Qu'mes yeux sont bleu marine
That my eyes are navy blue
Tu les avais r'pérés
You had noticed them
Sans qu'il y ait un regard
Without a glance
Et t'avais rappliqué
And you had come back
Maintenant, je paie l'effet retard
Now I am paying the delayed effect
Avant de toucher le fond
Before reaching the bottom
Je descends à reculons
I descend backwards
Sans trop savoir c'qui se passait dans le fond
Without really knowing what was happening in the depths
C'est plein d'chlore au fond de la piscine
It's full of chlorine at the bottom of the pool
J'ai bu la tasse, tchin tchin
I drank the cup, cheers
Comme c'est pour toi, je m'en fous
Since it's for you, I don't care
J'suis vraiment prête à tout
I'm really ready for anything
T'avaler, que m'importe
To swallow you, no matter
Si l'on me trouve à moitié morte
If they find me half dead
Noyée au fond d'la piscine
Drowned at the bottom of the pool
Personne ne te voyait
No one saw you
Sous mon p'tit pull marine
Under my little navy sweater
M'enlacer, j't'embrassais
I hugged you, kissed you
Jusqu'au point de non-retour
To the point of no return
Plutôt limite de notre amour
Rather the limit of our love
Viens vite au fond d'la piscine
Come quickly to the bottom of the pool
Repêcher ta p'tite sardine
Rescue your little sardine
L'empêcher de se noyer
Prevent her from drowning
Au fond d'toi, la garder
Keep her inside you
Petite soeur traqueuse
Little tracking sister
De l'air de ton air amoureuse
From the air of your loving air
Si nous deux, c'est au fond dans la piscine
If it's the two of us at the bottom of the pool
La deux des magazines
The two in the magazines
Se chargera d'notre cas
Will take care of our case
Et je n'aurai plus qu'à
And I will only have to
Mettre des verres fumés
Put on smoked glasses
Pour montrer tout c'que je veux cacher
To show everything I want to hide
Retrouve-moi au fond d'la piscine
Find me at the bottom of the pool
Avant qu'ça m'assassine
Before it kills me
De continuer sans toi
To continue without you
Tu peux compter sur moi:
You can count on me:
J'te r'ferai plus l' plan d'la star
I won't act like a star anymore for you
Qui a toujours ses coups de cafard
Who always has her moments of melancholy
J'ai touché le fond d'la piscine
I hit rock bottom in the swimming pool
Dans ton p'tit pull marine
In your little navy sweater
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SERGE GAINSBOURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind