I
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics


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I'm the boy
That can enjoy
Invisibility
I'm the boy
Le garçon
Qui a le don
D'invisibilité
Ombre parmi les ombres
Des nocturnes torrides
Je me perds dans le nombre
Pour atteindre au sordide

I'm the boy
That can enjoy
Invisibility
I'm the boy
Le garçon
Qui a le don
D'invisibilité

Masque parmi les masques
Tragiques ou d'amertume
Le cuir noir et les casques
Scintillant sous la lune

I'm the boy
That can enjoy
Invisibility
I'm the boy
Le garçon
Qui a le don
D'invisibilité

Âme parmi les âmes
Fébriles dans leurs angoisses
Lorsque brille une lame
Ou un regard salace

I'm the boy
That can enjoy
Invisibility
I'm the boy
Le garçon
Qui a le don
D'invisibilité

Homme parmi les hommes
Dans le noir ou l'ivoire
Recherchant les symptômes
D'orgasmes illusoires

I'm the boy
That can enjoy
Invisibility
I'm the boy
Le garçon
Qui a le don
D'invisibilité

Putain parmi les putes
J'enfonce dans la fange
Où s'étreignent les brutes
Et se saignent les anges

I'm the boy
That can enjoy
Invisibility
I'm the boy
Le garçon




Qui a le don
D'invisibilité

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Serge Gainsbourg's "I'm the Boy" are a reflection on the singer's ability to blend in and observe his surroundings without being noticed. He paints an image of himself as a shadow among shadows, losing himself in crowds to witness the seedy underbelly of life. Gainsbourg sings in French, but the English translation is just as powerful, capturing the essence of the song's themes.


The verse "Ombre parmi les ombres/Des nocturnes torrides/Je me perds dans le nombre/Pour atteindre au sordide" can be interpreted as the singer losing himself in the crowd to witness the more sordid elements of humanity. He is the boy who can enjoy invisibility and fade into the background to observe everything around him. The second verse describes the singer as a "masque parmi les masques" or a mask among masks, signifying his ability to blend in without being noticed.


The lyrics continue with the singer describing himself as an "âme parmi les âmes" or a soul among souls, pointing to his ability to empathize with others as he observes them. He goes further and describes himself as a "putain parmi les putes," meaning a prostitute among prostitutes, suggesting that he is not above sinking into the muck to witness the worst humanity has to offer.


Overall, the song is a reflection on the human condition, our ability to fade into the background and observe without being noticed, and the seedy underbelly that we all have but try to hide.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm the boy
I am the person being referred to in these lyrics


That can enjoy
Capable of finding pleasure in a unique way


Invisibility
Being unseen or unnoticeable by others


Le garçon
The boy (French)


Qui a le don
Who possesses a gift or talent


D'invisibilité
Of being invisible (French)


Ombre parmi les ombres
Shadow among shadows (French)


Des nocturnes torrides
Of torrid or passionate nights (French)


Je me perds dans le nombre
I get lost or caught up in the crowd (French)


Pour atteindre au sordide
To reach the sordid or unpleasant aspects (French)


Masque parmi les masques
Mask among masks (French)


Tragiques ou d'amertume
Tragic or bitter (French)


Le cuir noir et les casques
The black leather and helmets (French)


Scintillant sous la lune
Sparkling under the moon (French)


Âme parmi les âmes
Soul among souls (French)


Fébriles dans leurs angoisses
Feverish in their anxieties (French)


Lorsque brille une lame
When a blade glows (French)


Ou un regard salace
Or a lecherous look (French)


Homme parmi les hommes
Man among men (French)


Dans le noir ou l'ivoire
In the dark or ivory (French)


Recherchant les symptômes
Searching for symptoms (French)


D'orgasmes illusoires
Of illusory orgasms (French)


Putain parmi les putes
Whore among whores (French)


J'enfonce dans la fange
I plunge into the mud or dirt (French)


Où s'étreignent les brutes
Where beasts embrace (French)


Et se saignent les anges
And angels bleed (French)




Lyrics © SHAPIRO BERNSTEIN & CO. INC.
Written by: SERGE GAINSBOURG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@tobiasmeinecke6144

Rest in peace, dear Jane Birkin. Thanks for what you gave to the world.❣🌺

@HaraldKellerwessel-up7mq

RIP, Jane Birkin. Das Skandallied "Je T'aime" habe ich - wie so viele - in meiner Jugend geliebt.

@pablopirizgiagnacovo4988

La verdad que está actriz fue una belleza en su juventud y la cantante muy erótica

@catholiccowboy8545

.. lol.. to the world ??!!! .. wow !

@bevcoatham6462

I was so shocked to see that she has died RIP Jane I’ll never forget you 😢😢

@Francesca-sv4tx

Merci Jane RIP😢🙏🙏🙏

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@birkenmoor

RIP Jane Birkin!
My all-time-favorite french song.

@SmugSmuggler

Now she is reunited with Serge Gainsbourg again. May they rest in peace.

@bevcoatham6462

Yes same here 🥲 forever in our hearts xxx

@ingeh.9604

Absolutely yes

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