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.
Initials B.B.
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
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À me morfondre
Dans quelque pub anglais
Du cœur de Londres
Parcourant l'Amour Monstre de Pauwels
Me vint une vision
Dans l'eau de Seltz
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Tandis que des médailles
D'impérator
Font briller à sa taille
Le bronze et l'or
Le platine lui grave
D'un cercle froid
La marque des esclaves
À chaque doigt
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Jusques en haut des cuisses
Elle est bottée
Et c'est comme un calice
À sa beauté
Elle ne porte rien
D'autre qu'un peu
D'essence de Guerlain
Dans les cheveux
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
À chaque mouvement
On entendait
Les clochettes d'argent
De ses poignets
Agitant ses grelots
Elle avança
Et prononça ce mot
"Alméria"
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
The song "Initials B.B." by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg tells the story of a night in a London pub where the singer, feeling bored and down, is reading the surrealist novel "L'Amour Monstre" by Jacques Pauwels. Suddenly, the singer has a vision of a woman, identified only by her initials, B.B. The song then goes on to describe B.B.'s appearance and demeanor, including her gold and bronze medals, her slave rings, and her Guerlain perfume. B.B. is described as wearing nothing but boots that come up to her thighs, and as she moves, she jingles her silver bells. When she reaches the singer, she says only one word: "Almeria."
The meaning of the song is somewhat elusive and open to interpretation, as is often the case with Gainsbourg's work. "Initials B.B." is believed to be a tribute to Brigitte Bardot, Gainsbourg's former lover, who was referred to colloquially as "B.B." The inspiration for the song may have come from Gainsbourg's infatuation with and subsequent rejection by Bardot, as well as from his fascination with surrealism and the writings of Pauwels. The song paints a vivid, sensual picture of a mysterious woman who embodies romance, freedom, and rebelliousness.
Line by Line Meaning
Une nuit que j'étais À me morfondre Dans quelque pub anglais Du cœur de Londres Parcourant l'Amour Monstre de Pauwels Me vint une vision Dans l'eau de Seltz
One night while I was moping in an English pub in the heart of London, reading Pauwels' 'The Monster of Love,' I had a vision in Seltz water.
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Repeating the initials B.B, representing Brigitte Bardot, symbolize obsession with her image and fame.
Tandis que des médailles D'impérator Font briller à sa taille Le bronze et l'or Le platine lui grave D'un cercle froid La marque des esclaves À chaque doigt
While wearing medals like a Roman emperor, she has the mark of slavery on each finger, pressed with the cold circle of platinum, bronze and gold.
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Repeating the initials B.B, representing Brigitte Bardot, symbolize obsession with her image and fame.
Jusques en haut des cuisses Elle est bottée Et c'est comme un calice À sa beauté Elle ne porte rien D'autre qu'un peu D'essence de Guerlain Dans les cheveux
She wears boots up to her thighs, like a chalice of beauty, and nothing else but a bit of Guerlain essence in her hair.
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Repeating the initials B.B, representing Brigitte Bardot, symbolize obsession with her image and fame.
À chaque mouvement On entendait Les clochettes d'argent De ses poignets Agitant ses grelots Elle avança Et prononça ce mot 'Alméria'
With every movement, the silver bells on her wrists jingled like her ankles bells, while she walked and pronounced the word 'Almeria.'
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Repeating the initials B.B, representing Brigitte Bardot, symbolize obsession with her image and fame.
The initials, the initials, the initials B.B
Repeating the initials B.B, representing Brigitte Bardot, symbolize obsession with her image and fame.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind