Bertha
Jean Leloup Lyrics
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Affalée sur son divan
De velours et de brocart
Bertha, la femme la plus grosse
Du monde attend son dîner
Des grenouilles pour commencer
Foie de volaille, les pâtés
Pour ouvrir son appétit
Comme elle mange, la Bertha
Mastique le pachyderme
L'énorme est éléphantesque
Comme elle est laide et grotesque
Bertha avale coup sur coup
Des grenouilles au chocolat
Des perdrix au caramel
Et de porc douze genoux
Puis enfin, c'est le potage
Sur chacune de ses joues
Dégoulinent les morceaux
De foie gras et de poireaux
Comme elle mange, la Bertha
Mastique le pachyderme
L'énorme est éléphantesque
Comme elle est laide et grotesque
Les biftecks et les côtelettes
Cuits à la sauce d'abricots
Arrivent par en arrière
Arrivent par en arrière
Douze camions de livreurs
Nous en annoncent l'odeur
Les crèmes et vins capiteux
Les enfants courent joyeux
Les enfants courent joyeux
Les enfants courent joyeux en chantant
Comme elle mange, la Bertha
Mastique le pachyderme
L'énorme est éléphantesque
Comme elle est laide et grotesque
Mais que dire des cent fromages
Qui ensuite la couvriront
Coulera le camembert
Avant l'arrivée d'Albert
Contre qui elle s'étalera
Sous ses plis et ses remous
Elle l'étouffe entre ses fesses
Et il jouit, le petit rat
Et il crie "ah ah, ah ah ah"
Mais que dire des cent fromages
Qui ensuite la couvriront
Coulera le camembert
Avant l'arrivée d'Albert
Contre qui elle s'étalera
Sous ses plis et ses remous
Elle l'étouffe entre ses fesses
Et il jouit, le scélérat
Et il crie, le petit pois, AH!
Comme elle mange, la Bertha
Mastique le pachyderme
L'énorme est éléphantesque
Comme elle est laide et grotesque
Big fat mama, she's a big fat mama
Big fat mama, she's a big fat mama
The song "Bertha" by Jean Leloup tells the story of a woman named Bertha, who is overweight and waiting for her dinner. The lyrics depict her indulgence in a variety of rich and decadent foods. The song opens with the description of Bertha lounging on her velvet and brocade sofa, setting the stage for the excessive and extravagant behavior that follows.
Bertha's dining experience is described in vivid detail, highlighting her insatiable appetite. She begins with frogs' legs as an appetizer followed by delicacies such as chicken liver, pies, and Armagnac to enhance her appetite. The wordplay in the lyrics emphasizes the exaggerated nature of her eating, as she chews her food with the strength and repetition of a pachyderm, emphasizing the grotesque and unattractive aspects of her behavior.
The song continues with Bertha consuming an assortment of desserts, including chocolate-coated frogs, caramel-covered partridges, and 12-knee pork. The description of soup dripping from her cheeks symbolizes both her gluttony and her lack of concern for her appearance. The repetition of her excessive eating reinforces the absurdity and larger-than-life nature of her character.
In the next section, the lyrics describe the arrival of numerous trucks delivering beefsteaks and chops cooked in apricot sauce. The scent of the food triggers the excitement of children who eagerly run towards the festivities. This imagery adds to the exaggerated atmosphere of the song, emphasizing the overwhelming abundance and opulence of Bertha's meal.
As the song progresses, it takes a more explicit and provocative turn. The lyrics introduce a character named Albert and imply a sexual encounter between him and Bertha. The mention of a hundred cheeses adds to the excessive and indulgent nature of the scene. The lyrics suggest that Bertha covers Albert with cheese and they engage in a sexual act, with him ultimately experiencing pleasure. The use of explicit and shocking language contrasts with the earlier descriptions of her eating habits, highlighting the grotesque and unorthodox nature of her behavior.
In conclusion, "Bertha" by Jean Leloup is a satirical and exaggerated depiction of a woman's extreme eating habits. The lyrics aim to provoke a response from the listener by focusing on the excessiveness of Bertha's actions, emphasizing her unattractiveness and absurdity. Through explicit imagery and wordplay, the song offers commentary on indulgence, gluttony, and the extremes to which people can take their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Big fat mama!
Bertha, a woman who is large and overweight
Affalée sur son divan
She is lounging on her velvet and brocade sofa
De velours et de brocart
Made of luxurious materials
Bertha, la femme la plus grosse
Bertha, the largest woman
Du monde attend son dîner
She is waiting for her dinner
Des grenouilles pour commencer
Starting with frogs
Foie de volaille, les pâtés
Poultry liver and pâtés
Et puis un peu d'Armagnac
And then a bit of Armagnac
Pour ouvrir son appétit
To stimulate her appetite
Comme elle mange, la Bertha
She eats heavily
Mastique le pachyderme
Chewing like an elephant
L'énorme est éléphantesque
Her enormity is akin to an elephant
Comme elle est laide et grotesque
She is hideous and grotesque
Bertha avale coup sur coup
Bertha swallows one after another
Des grenouilles au chocolat
Frogs in chocolate
Des perdrix au caramel
Partridges in caramel
Et de porc douze genoux
And twelve knees of pork
Puis enfin, c'est le potage
Finally, it's the soup
Sur chacune de ses joues
On each of her cheeks
Dégoulinent les morceaux
Pieces are dripping
De foie gras et de poireaux
Of foie gras and leeks
Les biftecks et les côtelettes
Steaks and cutlets
Cuits à la sauce d'abricots
Cooked with apricot sauce
Arrivent par en arrière
Arriving from behind
Douze camions de livreurs
Twelve delivery trucks
Nous en annoncent l'odeur
Announcing their smell to us
Les crèmes et vins capiteux
Creams and heady wines
Les enfants courent joyeux
The children run happily
Les enfants courent joyeux
The children run happily
Les enfants courent joyeux en chantant
The children run happily while singing
Mais que dire des cent fromages
But what can we say about the hundred cheeses
Qui ensuite la couvriront
That will cover her afterwards
Coulera le camembert
Camembert cheese will flow
Avant l'arrivée d'Albert
Before Albert's arrival
Contre qui elle s'étalera
Against whom she will spread herself
Sous ses plis et ses remous
Under her rolls and grooves
Elle l'étouffe entre ses fesses
She suffocates him between her buttocks
Et il jouit, le petit rat
And he orgasms, the little rat
Et il crie "ah ah, ah ah ah"
And he cries "ah ah, ah ah ah"
Mais que dire des cent fromages
But what can we say about the hundred cheeses
Qui ensuite la couvriront
That will cover her afterwards
Coulera le camembert
Camembert cheese will flow
Avant l'arrivée d'Albert
Before Albert's arrival
Contre qui elle s'étalera
Against whom she will spread herself
Sous ses plis et ses remous
Under her rolls and grooves
Elle l'étouffe entre ses fesses
She suffocates him between her buttocks
Et il jouit, le scélérat
And he orgasms, the scoundrel
Et il crie, le petit pois, AH!
And he cries, the peas, AH!
Comme elle mange, la Bertha
She eats heavily
Mastique le pachyderme
Chewing like an elephant
L'énorme est éléphantesque
Her enormity is akin to an elephant
Comme elle est laide et grotesque
She is hideous and grotesque
Big fat mama, she's a big fat mama
Bertha, a woman who is large and overweight
Big fat mama, she's a big fat mama
Bertha, a woman who is large and overweight
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alexis Cochard, Jean Leloup, Monica Hynes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind