The song was banned by broadcasters in Spain, Sweden, Brazil as well as Britain and was condemned across the world as immoral, not least by the Vatican. It was so saucy that original co-vocalist Brigitte Bardot refused to approve its release. Scandalous singer Serge Gainsbourg soon found a 'willing partner' in British Jane Birkin.
Élisa
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
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Elisa, saute-moi au cou
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, cherche-moi des poux
Enfonce bien tes ongles
Et tes doigts délicats
Dans la jungle
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, saute-moi au cou
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, cherche-moi des poux
Fais-moi quelques anglaises
Et la raie au milieu
On a treize
Quatorze ans, à nous deux
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, les autres, on s'en fout
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, rien que toi, moi, nous
Tes vingt ans, mes quarante
Si tu crois que cela
Me tourmente
Ah là, vraiment, Lisa
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, saute-moi au cou
Elisa, Elisa
Elisa, cherche-moi des poux
Enfonce bien tes ongles
Et tes doigts délicats
Dans la jungle
De mes cheveux, Lisa
The song "Elisa" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg is a playful and slightly suggestive love song between a younger female named Elisa and an older male. The lyrics suggest a sense of rebellion and disregard for societal norms, particularly the age gap between the two lovers. The two seem to passionately explore each other's physicality, with Elisa playfully searching for lice in the male's hair and winding it into curls.
The lyrics also hint at a sense of insecurity on the part of the male, who is described as being twice Elisa's age. He reassures Elisa that their age difference does not concern him, despite his own insecurities. In this way, the song explores themes of attraction, age, and societal expectations.
Interestingly, "Elisa" was initially intended to be sung by Brigitte Bardot. However, her then-husband, French songwriter and producer Jacques Dutronc, convinced Serge Gainsbourg to give the song to Jane Birkin instead. The song was released as the B-side to Birkin and Gainsbourg's hit single "Je t'aime... moi non plus" in 1969.
Line by Line Meaning
Elisa, Elisa
Repetition of name to emphasize importance.
Elisa saute-moi au cou
Elisa, jump on me and wrap yourself around my neck
Elisa cherche-moi des poux
Elisa, search for lice in my hair (an activity usually done between lovers for fun).
Enfonce bien tes ongles
Press your nails hard
Et tes doigts délicats
And your delicate fingers
Dans la jungle
In the jungle of my hair
De mes cheveux Lisa
Of my hair Lisa
Fais-moi quelques anglaises
Make a few curls for me
Et la raie au milieu
And a middle parting
On a treize
We are 13 years old
Quatorze ans à nous deux
14 years between the two of us
Elisa les autres on s'en fout
Elisa, we don't care about the others
Elisa rien que toi, moi, nous
Elisa, only you, me, us
Tes vingt ans, mes quarante
You're twenty, I'm forty
Si tu crois que cela
If you think that
Me tourmente
It torments me
Ah non vraiment Lisa
Oh no, really Lisa
Elisa saute-moi au cou
Elisa, jump on me and wrap yourself around my neck
Elisa cherche-moi des poux
Elisa, search for lice in my hair (an activity usually done between lovers for fun).
Enfonce bien tes ongles
Press your nails hard
Et tes doigts délicats
And your delicate fingers
Dans la jungle
In the jungle of my hair
De mes cheveux Lisa
Of my hair Lisa
Lyrics © MELODY NELSON PUBLISHING, BAGATELLE, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Michel Colombier, Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind