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 Decadance
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Non
Contre moi
Non, pas comme ça
Et danse
La décadanse
Bouge tes reins
Lentement
Reste là
Derrière moi
Balance
La décadanse
Que tes mains
Frôlent mes seins
Et mon c?ur
Qui est le tien
Mon amour
De toujours
Patience
La décadanse
Sous mes doigts
T'emmènera
Vers de lointains
Au-delà
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
Dieux Pardonnez nos
Offenses
La décadanse
A bercé
Nos corps blasés
Et nos âmes égarées
Dieux!
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 © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: SERGE GAINSBOURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@miguelangelmayuritrillo745
Sensualidad en su máxima expresión, un gran compositor de musica pop francesa del siglo XX como Serge Gainsbourg, irrepetible.
@josemunozmartinez7073
Que privilegió poder haber vivido esos años fueron tiempos maravillosos, inolvidables, nunca nos cansaremos de tenerlos presentes forman parte de nuestra existencia
@reccccer2452
Tal cual ! Que belleza
@luizinhomacedoolivaoliva3654
que maravilha fazer parte desse nosso tempo dancei muito essa musica que tempo maravilhoso mas
@lyudmylaglagolyeva4158
Очень приятная и чувственная песня❤
@marlicavalcante548
Amava está canção vocês falavam de amor com naturalidade tocavam os corações almas gêmeas estão juntos com certeza ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@mariliareis7075
Esta música é fenomenal. O despojamento a sensualidade liberal.A classe a fragilidade da voz dela.É tudo sentidos. O jogo da dança . Não há palavras.
@rafaeljimenez8512
Desde el primer momento que vi su video me enamora de su voz de su delicadeza al interpretar su canción no me canso de verla dio que bella era y que hermosa canción dios la tenga en su reino
@SeptiembreAzulado
Acabo de ver a este hombre por primera vez, y fue amor a primera vista...o pasión? Tiene algo que no sé qué es, pero seduce!
@elprofepiazzeoficial
Jane lo mira totalmente enamorada... que bello amor... que perduró por siempre, a pesar de su separación y posterior muerte de serge... Jane seguro esta con el ahora ❤❤❤