He was born Lucien Ginzburg in Paris, France, the son of Jewish Russian parents who fled to France after the 1917 Bolshevik uprising. His childhood was profoundly affected by the occupation of France by Nazi Germany, during which he and his family, as Jews, were forced to wear the yellow star and eventually flee from Paris. He had a daughter, Charlotte Gainsbourg, with English singer and actress Jane Birkin; and a son, Lulu, with his last partner, Bambou (Caroline Von Paulus, who is related to Friedrich Paulus). Before he was 30 years old, Lucien Ginsburg was a disillusioned painter but earned his living as a piano player in bars. Daughter Charlotte would later become an actress and singer.
His early songs were influenced by Boris Vian and were largely in the vein of "old-fashioned" chanson. Very early, however, Gainsbourg began to move beyond this and experiment with a succession of different musical styles: jazz early on, English pop in the 60's, reggae in the 70's, even hip-hop in the 80's.
Success began to arrive when, in 1965, his song "Poupée de cire, poupée de son" was the Luxembourg entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. Performed by French teen singer France Gall, it won the grand prize. (The song was covered in English as "A Lonely Singing Doll" by British teen idol Twinkle.) He arranged other Gall songs and LPs that were characteristic of the late 1960s psychedelic styles, among them Gall's '1968' album. Another of Serge's songs "Boum Bada Boum" was entered in by Monaco in the 1967 contest, sung by Minouche Barelli; It came 5th.
In 1969, he released what would become his most famous song in the English-speaking world, "Je t'aime... moi non plus", which featured simulated sounds of female orgasm. The song appeared that year on an LP, "Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg". Originally recorded with Brigitte Bardot, it was released with future girlfriend Birkin when Bardot backed out. While Gainsbourg declared it the "ultimate love song," it was considered too "hot"; the song was censored in various countries, and in France, even the toned-down version was suppressed. Even the Vatican made a public statement citing the song as offensive. Its notoriety led it to reaching no. 1 in the UK singles chart. A long-standing rumor maintains that Gainsbourg and Birkin were actually having sex during the recording session (asked about it in an interview, Gainsbourg answered that if this was true, the song would have lasted longer than 4 minutes).
The seventies
His most influential work came near the start of the seventies with Histoire de Melody Nelson, released in 1971. This concept album, produced and arranged by Jean-Claude Vannier, tells the story of a Lolita-esque affair, with Gainsbourg as the narrator and Jane Birkin as the eponymous English heroine. It features prominent string arrangements and even a massed choir at its tragic climax. At the time, sales were poor, but the album has proven influential with artists such as Air, David Holmes and Beck.
In 1975, he released the album Rock Around the Bunker, a rock album written entirely on the subject of the Nazis. Gainsbourg used black humour, as he and his family suffered during World War II. While a child in Paris, Gainsbourg himself had worn the Yellow badge as the mark of a Jew.
The next year saw the release of another major work, L'Homme à la Tête de Chou (Cabbage-Head Man), featuring the new character Marilou and sumptuous orchestral themes.
In Jamaica in 1978 he recorded "Aux Armes et cetera," a reggae version of the French national anthem "La Marseillaise", with Robbie Shakespeare, Sly Dunbar and Rita Marley. This song earned him death threats from right-wing veterans of the Algerian War of Independence who were opposed to certain lyrics. Shortly afterwards, Gainsbourg bought the original manuscript of La Marseillaise. He was able to reply to his critics that his version was, in fact, closer to the original as the manuscript clearly shows the words "Aux armes et cætera..." for the chorus.
The next year saw him in the new look of Gainsbarre, officially introduced in the song "Ecce Homo."
Final years
In the 1980's, approaching the end of his life, Gainsbourg became a regular figure on French TV. His appearances seemed devoted to his controversial sense of humour and provocation. He would frequently show up drunk and unshaven on stage. Perhaps his most famous incident came when, on Michel Drucker's live Saturday evening show with the American singer Whitney Houston, he exclaimed, "I want to fuck her."
During this period he released Love On The Beat and his last studio album, You're Under Arrest, (which saw him adapt his style to the hip-hop genre), as well as two live recordings. His third and last Eurovision Song Contest entry came in 1990 with the French entry "White and Black Blues", sung by Joëlle Ursull. It came second in a tie with Ireland. His songs became increasingly eccentric in this period, ranging from the anti-drug "Les Enfants de la Chance" to the duet with his daughter Charlotte called "Lemon Incest (Un zeste de citron)." The title of the latter demonstrates Gainsbourg's love of puns (another example is "Bowie, Beau oui comme Bowie").
Discography :
1958 : Du Chant À La Une !
1959 : Serge Gainsbourg N°2
1961 : L'étonnant Serge Gainsbourg
1962 : Serge Gainsbourg N° 4
1963 : Gainsbourg Confidentiel
1964 : Gainsbourg Percussions
1968 : Initials B.B.
1968 : Bonnie And Clyde ( with Brigitte Bardot )
1969 : Jane Birkin-Serge Gainsbourg
1971 : Histoire de Melody Nelson ( with Jane Birkin )
1973 : Vu de l'extérieur
1975 : Rock around the bunker
1976 : L'Homme à tête de chou
1979 : Aux armes et cætera
1981 : Mauvaises Nouvelles Des Étoiles
1984 : Love on the Beat
1987 : You're Under Arrest
Gloomy Sunday
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sombre dimanche
Les bras tout chargés de fleurs
Je suis entré dans notre chambre
Le coeur las car je savais déjà
Que tu ne reviendrais pas
D'amour et de douleur
Je suis resté tout seul comme
Un con pauvre conne
Et j'ai pleuré tout bas
En écoutant gueuler
La plainte des frimas
Gloomy sunday
Je crèverai un Sunday
Où j'aurais trop souffert
Alors tu reviendras
Mais je serai parti
Des vierges brûleront
Comme un ardent espoir
Et pour toi sans effort
Mes yeux seront ouverts
N'aie pas peur mon amour
S'ils ne peuvent te voir
Ils te diront que
Je t'aimais plus que ma vie
Gloomy Sunday
Je crèverai un Sunday
Où j'aurais trop souffert
Alors tu reviendras
Mais je serai parti
Des vierges brûleront
Comme un ardent espoir
Et pour toi sans effort
Mes yeux seront ouverts
N'aie pas peur mon amour
S'ils ne peuvent te voir
Ils te diront que
Je t'aimais plus que ma vie
Gloomy Sunday
The song "Gloomy Sunday" by Serge Gainsbourg is a melancholic ballad about lost love and despair. The lyrics speak of the singer entering his bedroom with arms full of flowers, only to realize that his lover will never return. He expresses his love and pain with words and remains alone, crying and listening to the bitter howling of the winter winds.
The chorus of the song speaks of the singer's wish to die on a gloomy Sunday, when he has suffered too much. He hopes that his lover will return to him one last time, but he knows that he will be gone by then. He speaks of visions of burning virgins and open eyes that will always love his lost lover.
Overall, the song is a haunting tribute to a lost love and the desperation that comes with it. The singer's words convey a sense of deep pain and longing for a love he cannot have, and his wish for death is a reflection of the agony that love can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Sombre dimanche
A gloomy Sunday, where everything is physically and emotionally heavy.
Les bras tout chargés de fleurs
I entered our room carrying an overabundance of flowers, as if to compensate for the emptiness I knew was there.
Je suis entré dans notre chambre
I walked into our shared space, knowing things weren't going to be the same.
Le coeur las car je savais déjà
My heart was tired because I had fully accepted the fact that you were not coming back.
Que tu ne reviendrais pas
I knew deep down that you had gone for good.
Et j'ai balancé des mots
I started saying things out loud, perhaps to keep myself company.
D'amour et de douleur
Words of love and pain, some of which I had never even said before.
Je suis resté tout seul comme
And then I suddenly realized I was all alone.
Un con pauvre conne
A pathetic loser, who couldn't even keep his loved one by his side.
Et j'ai pleuré tout bas
I cried silently, not wanting to disturb the quiet of our deserted room.
En écoutant gueuler
As I sat there, I heard the cold winds outside howling like miserable beasts.
La plainte des frimas
The lament of the frigid air.
Je crèverai un Sunday
I will die on a gloomy Sunday, after enduring too much suffering.
Où j'aurais trop souffert
One where the pain was too much to handle.
Alors tu reviendras
And yet, in some way, I still hope you'll come back.
Mais je serai parti
But deep down, I already know that I won't be there.
Des vierges brûleront
Candles will burn, like a fiery beacon of hope.
Comme un ardent espoir
Symbolizing the strength of my love for you.
Et pour toi sans effort
Without much effort, I'll still love you.
Mes yeux seront ouverts
My eyes will be open, watching over you.
N'aie pas peur mon amour
Don't be afraid, my love.
S'ils ne peuvent te voir
Even though you can't see me, I'll still be here for you.
Ils te diront que
My eyes will tell you that
Je t'aimais plus que ma vie
I loved you more than anything else in this world.
Gloomy Sunday
This all leads back to the gloomy Sunday, a day of overwhelming sadness and despair.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Laszlo Javor, Rezso Seress, Sam M. Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bob bob
Paroles
Écouter
Autres versions
Principaux résultats
Gloomy Sunday
Sombre dimanche
Les bras tout chargés de fleurs
Je suis entré dans notre chambre
Le coeur las car je savais déjà
Que tu ne reviendrais pas
Et j'ai balancé des mots
D'amour et de douleur
Je suis resté tout seul comme
Un con pauvre conne
Et j'ai pleuré tout bas
En écoutant gueuler
La plainte des frimas
Gloomy sunday
Je crèverai un Sunday
Où j'aurais trop souffert
Alors tu reviendras
Mais je serai parti
Des vierges brûleront
Comme un ardent espoir
Et pour toi sans effort
Mes yeux seront ouverts
N'aie pas peur mon amour
S'ils ne peuvent te voir
Ils te diront que
Je t'aimais plus que ma vie
Gloomy Sunday
Je crèverai un Sunday
Où j'aurais trop souffert
Alors tu reviendras
Mais je serai parti
Des vierges brûleront
Comme un ardent espoir
Et pour toi sans effort
Mes yeux seront ouverts
N'aie pas peur mon amour
S'ils ne peuvent te voir
Ils te diront que
Je t'aimais plus que ma vie
Gloomy Sunday
Farid Williams
Sombre dimanche
les bras tout chargés de fleurs
je suis entré dans notre chambre
le coeur las
car je savais déjà
que tu ne reviendrais pas
j'ai balancé des mots d’amour
et de douleur
je suis resté tout seul comme
un con pauvre conne
et j'ai pleuré tout bas
en écoutant gueuler
la plainte des frimas
Gloomy sunday
Je crèverai un Sunday
où j'aurais trop souffert
alors tu reviendras
mais je serai parti
des vierges brûleront
comme un ardent espoir
et pour toi sans effort
mes yeux seront ouverts
n’aie pas peur mon amour
s’ils ne peuvent te voir
ils te diront que je t'aimais
plus que ma vie
Gloomy Sunday
Je crèverai un Sunday
où j'aurais trop souffert
alors tu reviendras
mais je serai parti
des vierges brûleront
comme un ardent espoir
et pour toi sans effort
mes yeux seront ouverts
n’aie pas peur mon amour
s’ils ne peuvent te voir
ils te diront que je t'aimais
plus que ma vie
Gloomy Sunday
Dark sunday
arms full of flowers
I entered our room
weary heart
because I already knew
that you won't come back
I threw love words
and pain
I was left all alone like
a poor asshole
and I cried low
listening to yell
the frost complaint
Gloomy sunday
I'll die on a Sunday
where I would have suffered too much
then you will come back
but i will be gone
virgins will burn
like a burning hope
and for you effortlessly
my eyes will be open
don't be afraid my love
if they can't see you
they will tell you that I loved you
more than my life
Gloomy Sunday
I'll die on a Sunday
where I would have suffered too much
then you will come back
but i will be gone
virgins will burn
like a burning hope
and for you effortlessly
my eyes will be open
don't be afraid my love
if they can't see you
they will tell you that I loved you
more than my life
Gloomy Sunday
christophe marneux
il restera comme un immense grand génie des années 60,70,80 et 90 une étoile immortelle brille pour toi Serge tu nous manque vraiment énormément.
Franck Turgis
Merci pour lui ne l oublié pas
Justin peu
Christophe marneux
irremplaçable, l'interview du JT avec Philippe lefait récemment en ligne a été supprimé ! quelle époque de Merde que nous vivons !!!
LANDE ALAIN
J'avais 20 ans quand cet album est sorti. Je l'ai écouté en boucle cette chanson à l'époque. J'ai vu deux fois Serge Gainsbourg en concert. La première fois, en 1985, à l'occasion de la sortie de l'album "Love on the beat", et la seconde fois en 1988 après la sortie de cet album. Merci pour ce partage
Mémoire de l'Ombre
Vous connaissez pas votre chance... Moi j'ai assisté à ses obsèques à distance de la foule j avais 9 ans je m en souviens comme si c'était hier...sans aucun doute le plus grand auteur compositeur interprète du 20ème siècle !!!
Delphine Benaim
Quelle leçon de vie , atemporelle,qui nous transperce le coeur ,bravo l'artiste ,tu nous manques éperdument.
Félix LECHAT
oh ! que oui.........
Pedro Aguilar
v.c. disse tudo: atemporal
Jean Baptiste Béraud
Mon angel
2001mimil
30 ans deja qu'il est parti vers les etoiles.. sensible.. provocateur.. génie.. symphonies.. chansons et chefs d'oeuvre.. elegant et vulgaire.. beau et timide.. riche et complexe.. je n'oublierai jamais le jour de son décès.. un monument.. un etre excentrique et simple à la fois.. son charme decadent unique.. son génie avant-garde.. sublime et horrible.. inoubliable.. .. Melody Nelson dans mon walkman dans un bus qui m'emmenait à Barcelone.. puis sur le bateau pour Ibiza.. une époque.. une liberté.. j'avais plaqué mon boulot.. en septembre.. pour retrouver mon bel Argentin.. c'etait dans les années 80.. sa musique etait l'air de ce temps là.. aussi..