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.
La Décadanse
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Non) contre moi
Non, pas comme ça (et danse)
La décadanse
Oui, c'est bien
Bouge tes reins
Lentement
Devant les miens
Reste là
Derrière moi
Balance
La décadanse
Que tes mains
Frôlent mes seins
Et mon cœur
Qui est le tien
Mon amour
De toujours
Patience
La décadanse
Sous mes doigts
T'emmènera
Vers de lointains
Au-delàs
Des eaux troubles
Soudain troublent
Mes sens
La décadanse
M'a perdue
Ah, tu me tues
Mon amour
Dis, m'aimes-tu?
Je t'aimais
Déjà, mais
Nuance
La décadanse
Plus encore
Que notre mort
Lie nos âmes
Et nos corps
Dieu, pardonnez nos
Offenses
La décadanse
A bercé
Nos corps blessés
Et nos âmes égarées
Dieu
Pardonnez nos offenses
La décadanse
A bercé
Nos corps blasés
Et nos âmes égarées
The lyrics of Jane Birkin’s song “Décadanse” are full of sensuality, desire and passion. Through the words, Birkin and lyricist Serge Gainsbourg paint a picture of an intimate encounter between two lovers engaging in a dance of decadence. The song is sung in French, adding to its seductive essence. The lyrics begin with Birkin asking her lover to face her, but not in that way. She then proceeds to encourage him to dance the “décadanse,” to move his hips slowly and to stay there behind her. As the dance ensues, she asks him to touch her breasts and move his hands slowly across her body, suggesting an increasing level of intimacy between the two.
Throughout the song, Birkin’s voice becomes increasingly passionate, rising to a climax as she exclaims, "Ah tu me tues" ("Oh, you kill me"). She then implores her lover to tell her if he loves her. She confirms her own love for him, but with nuance. The repetition of the phrase “La décadanse” creates a hypnotic rhythm, adding to the seduction and intensity of the moment. The song ends with Birkin asking the gods to forgive their sins as they engage in the decadent dance of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Tourne-toi
Turn yourself around
Non
No
Contre moi
Against me
Non, pas comme ça
No, not like that
Et danse
And dance
La décadanse
The decadance
Bouge tes reins
Move your hips
Lentement
Slowly
Devant les miens
In front of mine
Reste là
Stay there
Derrière moi
Behind me
Balance
Swing
La décadanse
The decadance
Que tes mains
That your hands
Frôlent mes seins
Touch my breasts
Et mon cœur
And my heart
Qui est le tien
That is yours
Mon amour
My love
De toujours
Forever
Patience
Patience
La décadanse
The decadance
Sous mes doigts
Under my fingers
T'emmènera
Will take you
Vers de lointains
To distant
Au-delà
Beyond
Des eaux troubles
The troubled waters
Soudain troublent
Suddenly trouble
Mes sens
My senses
La décadanse
The decadance
M'a perdue
Lost me
Ah tu me tues
Ah you're killing me
Mon amour
My love
Dis m'aimes-tu?
Say, do you love me?
Je t'aimais
I loved you
Déjà mais
Already, but
Nuance
Nuance
La décadanse
The decadance
Plus encore
Even more
Que notre mort
Than our death
Lie nos âmes
Ties our souls
Et nos corps
And our bodies
Dieux Pardonnez nos
Gods forgive us
Offenses
Offenses
A bercé
Has rocked
Nos corps blasés
Our jaded bodies
Et nos âmes égarées
And our lost souls
Dieux!
Gods!
Pardonnez nos offenses
Forgive our offenses
La décadanse
The decadance
A bercé
Has rocked
Nos corps blasés
Our jaded bodies
Et nos âmes égarées
And our lost souls
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marie-Pierre Berger
Nous avons la chance d'avoir connue deux Sublimes artistes ! Gainsbourg ce génie et Jane Birking avec sa voix frêle si sensuelle !! J'espère qu'ils se sont retrouvés aux milieux des étoiles ❤❤❤🙏🙏🌹🌹
magpoju
L'amour est éternel! Bonne retrouvaille à vous 2 ❤❤❤🙏
WILSON BARBETTA
Ouvindo esta minha canção favorita, justamente no dia do falecimento desta magnífica cantora. Vai em paz.
Arthur Tevosyants
Они оба останутся в наших сердцах и памяти, красивый творческий дует. Джейн и Серж вам вечного покоя и мира в загробной жизни, спасибо что вы были для нас🙏🙏🙏
Lili TESTE
Quel talent ! Quel poète ! Géniaux jeux de mots... Exceptionnel Serge...que de merveilleux souvenirs sur tes chansons... Comme tu nous manques ! ♥️
Geneviève Taulier
Jane c'est la frêle voix fragile qui prononce les jeux de mots ciselés, sophistiqués et sexy de Gainsbourg sur des musiques classiques monumentales ... Toute ma jeunesse. Repose en paix.
Vilma Benante
Belas lembranças da minha juventude, uma voz inconfundível!
Maria Lucia Camargo
Linda música . Muito bela , que saudade de quando era adolescente . Maravilhoso
😃😃😃 .
Frédéric Allard
Merci à Serge et à Jane❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Nara Regina
Só nós dois!❤❤