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
Marabout
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Marabout
Y’ en a marre
Marabout
Bout d’ ficelle
C’est la vie
Vie de chien
Chien de temps
Faire les cons
Qu’on se marre
Marabout
Bout d’ ficelle
C’est la vie
Vie de chien
Chien de temps
T’en fais pas
Pamela
Y’ en a
Marabout
Y’ en a marre
Marabout
Bout de ficelle
C’est la vie
Vie de chien
Chien de temps
Tant qu’à faire
Faire les cons
Qu’on se marre
Marabout
Bout d’ ficelle
C’est l’amour
Amour tendre
Entre nous
N’oublie pas
Pamela
The lyrics to Serge Gainsbourg's Marabout are a playful commentary on the whimsical nature of life. The repetition of the phrase "Marabout" and "Y'en a marre" creates a musical motif that mirrors the repetition and monotony of everyday life. The references to the "bout d'ficelle" or "piece of string" as a metaphor for life further highlight the fragility and unpredictability of our existence. The lyrics go on to lament the doggedness of time, acknowledging that we must make the most of it and "faire les cons" or "act like fools" in order to find joy and levity in our otherwise mundane lives.
While the first half of the song focuses on the cyclical nature of life and the need to make the most of it, the second half takes on a more romantic tone. The lyrics shift from "C'est la vie" to "C'est l'amour," highlighting the contrast between the harsh realities of life and the sweetness of love. The mention of "Pamela" at the end of the song brings the romantic subplot to a close, reminding the listener that even in the face of life's troubles, there is always the possibility of love and connection.
Overall, Marabout is a song that celebrates the highs and lows of everyday life, acknowledging the monotony and unpredictability of our existence while also embracing the small moments of joy and beauty that make it all worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
Y’ en a
There are some things, some issues.
Marabout
The situation is frustrating and complicated.
Y’ en a marre
There are too many issues, too many problems to handle.
Marabout
The situation is frustrating and complicated.
Bout d’ ficelle
A small detail or thing.
C’est la vie
That's life, it is what it is.
Vie de chien
Life is tough, difficult and challenging.
Chien de temps
The passage of time can be harsh and unforgiving.
Tant qu’à faire
If we're going to do something, might as well do it well or have some fun with it.
Faire les cons
Let's do something silly and funny, let's act like a fool.
Qu’on se marre
Let's laugh and have a good time.
Marabout
The situation is frustrating and complicated.
Bout d’ ficelle
A small detail or thing.
C’est la vie
That's life, it is what it is.
Vie de chien
Life is tough, difficult and challenging.
Chien de temps
The passage of time can be harsh and unforgiving.
T’en fais pas
Don't worry.
Pamela
A name of someone whom the singer is addressing.
Y’ en a
There are some things, some issues.
Marabout
The situation is frustrating and complicated.
Y’ en a marre
There are too many issues, too many problems to handle.
Marabout
The situation is frustrating and complicated.
Bout d’ ficelle
A small detail or thing.
C’est l’amour
It's love, affection and tenderness.
Amour tendre
A tender or gentle love.
Entre nous
Between us, just you and me.
N’oublie pas
Don't forget.
Pamela
A name of someone whom the singer is addressing.
Lyrics © MELODY NELSON PUBLISHING, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL BABATUNDE OLATUNJI, SERGE GAINSBOURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mr Singe
Merci beaucoup
Roland Aruho
Jin-Go-La by Babatunde Olatunji is the original to which this a cover/remix. Where's the credit?
damien moulard
Gainsbourg stole
JP C
Gainsbourg stole also Aki Wowo, and Kiya Kiya on the same album. I love Gainsbourg... But it's such a shame (!!!) for the huge Master that is Babatunde Olatunji. It's been 20 years I tell everybody in France he did not credit him, so basically he has stolen the music... So for people who says "New York USA" is a song from Serge Gainsbourg, it is not, it is Aki Wowo, the famous music from Babatunde Olatunji on his world wide famous album "Drums of passion" that everybody should have a listen
Carlos Facundo Ferreyra☆
Jingo !
BowTangey
Yes! Jingo!!
BowTangey
Borrow from the best!
Kevin Feuillet
Malgré le plagiat, la chanson est bien !
Douanier Rousseau
A bon ?
Pristus Rana
Mouais.
Pas d'un grand intérêt...
Si ce n'était pas Gainsbourg...