Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928 – March 2, 1991) was a French poet-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Serge Gainsbourg (April 2, 1928 – March 2, 1991) was a French poet-songwriter, singer, actor, novelist, painter and director. Gainsbourg's varied style and individuality made him difficult to categorize. Although famous in France for many years, he did not achieve his first No. 1 album until 1979, when he released Aux Armes et caetera more than twenty years after his music career had begun. But since the 1980s, his legacy has been firmly established.
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
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
La Horse
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Serge Gainsbourg:
10 Inceste de citron Lemon incest Je t'aime t'aime, je t'aime…
18 Tous ceux-là qui dansaient ça Maintenant ne sont plus là Ils…
3 Je me suis fait faire 3 millions de Jocondes sur…
69 Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough Ont pris le ferry-boat De leu…
69 ann#e #rotique Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough Ont pris le ferry-boat De l…
69 année érotique Gainsbourg et son Gainsborough Ont pris le ferry-boat De leu…
Accordéon 188 - Accordéon 1. Dieu que la vie est cru-el-le Au mu-si-c…
Adieu Créature Adieu, créature J'm'en vais dans la nature Et ne m'en veui…
Adieu Creature ! Adieu, créature J'm'en vais dans la nature Et ne m'en veuill…
Ah ! Melody Ah, Melody Tu m'en auras fait faire Des conneries Hue, hue …
Amour a la papa L'amour à la papa Dis-moi, dis-moi Dis-moi ça ne m'intéresse…
Amour Sans Amour Combien j'ai connu d'inconnues Toutes de roses dévêtues Comb…
Anamour Aucun Boeing sur mon transit Aucun bateau sous mon transat …
Aux Armes Dub Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Co…
Aux Armes Et Caetera Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Cont…
Aux Armes Et Caeterna Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Co…
Aux armes et cætera Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Cont…
aux armes et c�tera Aux enfants de la chance Qui n'ont jamais connu les transes …
Aux_Armes_Et_Caetera featuring Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Cont…
Bad News From The Stars Bad news from the star, bad news from the star,…
Baille Baille Samantha Baille baille Samantha, Je suis à cran, tu es accroc, Samant…
Ballad of Melody Nelson Ça c'est l'histoire de Melody Nelson Qu'à part moi-même pers…
Ballade De Johnny Jane Hey, Johnny Jane Te souviens-tu du film de Gainsbourg, Je t…
Ballade de Melody Nelson Ça, c'est l'histoire De Melody Nelson Qu'à part moi-même, pe…
Ballade de Melody Nelson (Howie B Remix) Ça, c'est l'histoire De Melody Nelson Qu'à part moi-même per…
Ballade De Melody Nelson - Howie B Remix Elle avait de l'amour, pauvre Melody Nelson Ouais, elle en a…
Bana Basadi Balalo Bana basadi balalo, Dialecte bantou Bana basadi balalo, Troi…
Baudelaire Que j'aime voir chère indolente De ton corps si beau Comme u…
Beaudelaire Que j'aime voir chère indolente, De ton corps si beau, Com…
Black & White Une négresse Qui buvait du lait Ah! Se disait-elle Si je le …
Black trombone Black trombone Monotone Le trombone C'est joli Tourbillo…
Bloody Jack Le cœur de Bloody Jack Ne bat qu'un coup sur quatre Mais…
Bonnie & Clyde Vous avez lu l'histoire de Jesse James Comment il vécut, com…
Bonnie & Clyde (Herbert's Fred & Ginger mix) Vous avez lu l'histoire De Jesse James Comment il vécut Comm…
Bonnie and Clyde Vous avez lu l'histoire de Jesse James Comment il vécut, com…
Bonnie and Clyde (feat. Brigitte Bardot) Vous avez lu l'histoire De Jesse James Comment il vécut Comm…
Boomerang Je sens des boums et des bangs Agiter mon cœur blessé L'amou…
Brigade Des Stups À la brigade des stups J'suis tombé sur des cops Ils ont…
Bubble Gum Aimer toujours le même homme C'est des histoires à la gomme …
C'est la cristallisation comme dit Stendhal Moi je te dis une chose. Tu perds un seul…
Cannabis La mort a pour moi le visage d'une enfant Au regard…
Cargo Culte Je sais moi, des sorciers qui invoquent les jets Dans la…
Ce grand méchant vous Promenons-nous dans le moi Pendant que le vous n'y est pas C…
Ce Mortel Ennui Ce mortel ennui Qui me vient Quand je suis avec toi Ce morte…
Ces petits rien Mieux vaut n'penser à rien Que n'pas penser du tout Rien c'e…
Cha cha cha du loup Connais-tu l'histoire que me racontait ma nounou? C'est une …
Chanson De Maglia Vous êtes bien belle et je suis bien laid À vous…
Chanson de Slogan Tu es faible, tu es fourbe, tu es fou Tu es…
Chanson du forçat Oh oh oh qui ne s'est jamais laissé enchainer, Oh oh…
Chanson Du Forcat II A dire vrai je suis un fossaire de compagnie, A dire…
Chanson du forçat II Adire vrai je suis un faussaire de compagnie A dire vrai…
Chanson Pour Tézigue J'aime bien mézigue Mais j'aimais mieux Cent fois de tézigue…
Charleston des déménageurs de C'est nous les démenageurs de pianos Des Steinway, des Pleye…
Charlie Brown Un petit garçon comme Charlie À qui jamais rien ne réussit …
Charlotte for ever Charlotte (Charlotte for ever) Petit papa rêveur Charlotte (…
Chatterton Chatterton suicidé Hannibal suicidé Démosthène suicidé Nietz…
Chez les yé yé Ni les tams-tams des yé-yé-yé-é Ni les gris-gris que tu port…
Chez les yé-yé Ni les tams-tams des yé-yé-yé-é Ni les gri-gris que tu porta…
Chez Max coiffeur pour homme Chez Max, coiffeur pour homme, Ou un jour j'entrais comme …
Coco And Co Écoute Le gars qui jazzote T'entends Ah, comme il saxote Il …
Comic Strip Viens petite fille, dans mon comic strip Viens faire des bul…
Comme Un Boomerang Je sens des boums et des bangs Agiter mon cœur blessé L'amou…
Comme Un Diamant Un jour comme un autre ou je restais seule avec…
Comment Te Dire Adieu Sous aucun prétexte je ne veux Avoir de réflexes malheureux…
Comment trouvez-vous ma soeur Toutes les femmes sont jolies, Enfin plus ou moins jolie jol…
Comment Trouvez-Vous Ma Soeur ? Toutes les femmes sont jolies Enfin plus ou moins jolie joli…
Couleur Caf J'aime ta couleur café Tes cheveux café Ta gorge café J'a…
Couleur Café J'aime ta couleur café Tes cheveux café Ta gorge café J'aime…
d Honte à toi qui la première m'a appris la trahison…
Daisy Temple Oh Daisy Temple Tu aimes les boubous Tu aimes ta nounou Tu a…
Daisy Temple [ Oh Daisy Temple Tu aimes les boubous Tu aimes ta nounou T…
De plus en plus de moins en moins Avec elle, tout est possible. Est-ce qu'elle va seulement m…
Depression Au Dessus Du Jardin Dépression au-dessus du jardin, ton expression est au chagri…
Dépression Au-Dessus Du Jardin Dépression au-dessus du jardin Ton expression est au chagri…
Des Laids Des Dubs Quand on m'dit que j'suis moche J'me marre doucement pour n'…
Des Laids Des Laids Quand on m'dit que j'suis moche J'me marre doucement pour n…
Des vents des pets des poums Déjà deux heures que j'fais l'pet d'vant sa porte comme…
Dieu Est Un Fumeur de Havanes Dieu est un fumeur de havanes Je vois ses nuages gris Je…
Dispatch Box Je prends mon baise-en-ville J'me tire à Delta Ville Avec …
Docteur Jeckyll Et Monsieur Hyde - Hello Docteur Jekyll ! - Non je n' suis pas…
Docteur Jekyll et Monsieur Hyde (Hello, Docteur Jekyll) Non, je ne suis pas le Docteur Jekyl…
Douze Belles Dans la Peau Un, deux, trois, quart, cinq, six, sept, huit, neuf, dix,…
Du Jazz Dans Le Ravin Écoute, c'est toi qui conduis ou moi? C'est moi, bon alors…
Dub Des Stups À la brigade des stups Je suis tombé sur des cops Ils…
Dub et caetera Allons enfant de la patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé Cont…
Dub From The Stars Bad news from the star, bad news from the star,…
Eau À la Bouche Écoute ma voix, écoute ma prière Écoute mon cœur qui bat,…
Eau et dub à tous les étages Ma petite quéquette Sort de ma braguette Je pisse et je pète…
Eau et gaz à tous les étages Ma petite quйquette Sort de ma braguette Je pisse et je pиte…
Ecce Homo Ecce homo, ecce homo Ecce homo, ecce homo, homo, homo Ecce h…
Ecce Homo Et Caetera One, two, three Ecce homo Ecce homo Ecce homo Ecce homo, ho…
Elaeudanla téïtéïa Elaeudanla Teïtéïa Elaeudanla Teïtéïa Sur ma Remington porta…
Elaeudanla Teiteia Sur ma Remington portative J'ai écrit ton nom Laetitia Ela…
Élisa Elisa, Elisa Elisa saute-moi au cou Elisa, Elisa Elisa cherc…
Elle est si Elle est si chatte que je lui dis mou Elle est…
Elle est si (live) Elle est si chatte que je lui dis mou Elle est…
En Melody Melody voulut revoir le ciel de Sunderland Elle prit le 707…
En relisant ta lettre En relisant ta lettre je m'apercois que l' orthographe et…
Est-ce Est-ce Si Bon Sont-ce ces insensés assassins? Est-ce ainsi qu'assassins s'…
Eva Eva aime smoke gets in your eyes Cet air là l'emmène…
Everybody Loves My Baby Everybody loves my baby But my baby don't love nobody but…
Evguenie Sokolov Mets ton masque à gaz Sokolov que tes fermentations anaérob…
Five easy pisseuses De mes cinq petites pisseuses j'ai préféré la six Ouais pour…
Flash Forward Un soir qu'à l'improviste, je toque Je frappe à ma porte…
Ford Mustang On se fait des "langues" en "Ford Mustang" Et "bang", on…
Friedland Il était une fois une jambe de bois qui cherchait…
G.I. Jo G.I. Jo Tu vas mourir sous le drapeau américain G.I. Jo T…
Gainsbourg Cherche 'Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus' Je t'aime, je t'aime Oh oui, je t'aime Moi non plus Oh, mon…
Glass Securit Tequila aquavit Un glass securit Pour prendre ton clit A jeu…
Gloomy Sunday Gloomy Sunday Sombre dimanche Les bras tout chargés de fleu…
Good Bye Emmanuelle Harley David, son of bitch Hey dis donc David fils de…
Good-Bye Emmanuelle Emmanuelle, Emmanuelle, Emmanuelle, Good Bye Emmanuelle aim…
Harley David Son Of A Bitch Harley David son of a bitch Eh dis donc David fils…
Harley Davidson Je n'ai besoin de personne En Harley Davidson Je ne reconnai…
Hey Man Amen Quand je serai refroidu Je laisserai à mon petit Luli Mes …
Hier Ou Demain Écoute mon coeur qui bat Il ne bat pas pour toi, Mais…
Hmm Hmm Hmm Hmm, hmm, hmm, j'ai des doutes j'ai des affreux Hmm, hmm,…
Hold Up Je suis venu pour te voler Cent millions de baisers Cent mil…
I I'm the boy That can enjoy Invisibility I'm the boy Le g…
I'm The Boy I'm the boy That can enjoy Invisibility I'm the boy Le garço…
Il était une oie Il était une oie Une petite oie Qui mettait à son étalage Le…
and many more tracks by Serge Gainsbourg.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Elian
on Ford Mustang
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines [double entendre] (On s' fait des "lines")
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in [triple entendre]
To the plane trees / And then, "Bang," we're getting high ("embrasser les platanes = planer" [ French] (=to get high)
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A windshield wiper
A pack of Kool
A badge with the inscription
"Keep Cool"
A bar of
Chocolate
A Coca-Cola
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
A bottle
Of make-up fluid
A flashgun
A Browning (automatic pistol)
A phonograph
A volume
Of Edgar A. Poe
And a plain brass ZIPPO
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right
An edition
Of Superman
A nut from
Paco
Rabanne
A pic of
Marilyn
A tube of aspirin
We're swapping spits / We're snorting lines
In a Ford Mustang
And then, "Bang"
We're banging in
To the plane trees
"Mus" to the left
"Tang" to the right
And to the left, to the right