The duo Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg is best known for the internationa… Read Full Bio ↴The duo Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg is best known for the international smash "Je t'aime... moi non plus" from 1969. This erotic song was the first foreign language record to hit #1in the UK.
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.

Raccrochez C'Est une Horreur
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Allô Allô allô
Allô Allô allô
C'est Johnny ? C'est Lulu ?

Allô Allô allô
Salut poulette !
C'est qui ?
T'inquiète ! Tu m'connais pas, donc j'te connais pas

Eh dis donc, on pourrait faire dodo ensemble, hein,
Qu'est-ce que t'en dis ?
Raccrochez c'est une horreur !

Allô Allô allô
Ouais ouais, j’suis toujours là.
T’as d’la suite dans les idées, hein
Eh poupée, p’tite chérie
Comment tu couches, à poil ou en pyjama, réponds.
Raccrochez c'est une horreur !

Allô Allô allô
T'es un pauvre malade hein !
Faut aller te faire soigner !
Eh t'occupe, Tu sais c' que j'ai envie d' te faire ?
Devine, des bisous tout partout.
Raccrochez c'est une horreur !

Allô Allô allô
Eh dis donc le maniaque sexuel,
Tu pourrais pas m'oublier un peu
Petite, devine un peu

C'que j'suis en train d'me faire en ce moment...
Raccrochez c'est une horreur !

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Raccrochez C'est une Horreur" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg depict a comical and flirtatious conversation between two individuals over the phone. The song begins with multiple "allo" exchanges, indicating the start of a phone conversation. The singer, referred to as Johnny or Lulu, initiates the conversation with the other person, referred to as "poulette" or "poupée."

Throughout the song, the singer engages in playful banter, suggesting the idea of sleeping together and asking the other person how they prefer to sleep, either naked or in pajamas. However, instead of going along with the flirtation, the other person repeatedly responds with "raccrochez c'est une horreur," meaning "hang up, it's awful." This response implies that they find the singer's advances inappropriate or unpleasant.

As the song progresses, the singer continues to make suggestive remarks, even suggesting that they want to give the other person kisses all over. However, the recipient of the calls dismisses the advances and insists that the singer is sick and needs help. The song ends with the recipient suggesting that they are engaging in a sexual act at the moment, once again urging the singer to hang up the phone because it is dreadful.

Overall, the lyrics of "Raccrochez C'est une Horreur" are humorous and portray a playful but unsuccessful attempt at seduction. The conversation elicits laughter through the exaggerated and flirtatious dialogue between the two characters, showcasing Serge Gainsbourg's talent for wordplay and Jane Birkin's sassy delivery.

Line by Line Meaning

Allô Allô allô
Hello hello hello

C'est Johnny ? C'est Lulu ?
Is this Johnny? Is this Lulu?

Salut poulette !
Hey chick!

C'est qui ?
Who is it?

T'inquiète ! Tu m'connais pas, donc j'te connais pas
Don't worry! You don't know me, so I don't know you

Eh dis donc, on pourrait faire dodo ensemble, hein, Qu'est-ce que t'en dis ?
Hey, we could sleep together, huh? What do you think?

Raccrochez c'est une horreur !
Hang up, it's horrible!

Ouais ouais, j’suis toujours là.
Yeah yeah, I'm still here

T’as d’la suite dans les idées, hein
You have some ideas, huh

Eh poupée, p’tite chérie
Hey doll, sweetheart

Comment tu couches, à poil ou en pyjama, réponds.
How do you sleep, naked or in pajamas, answer