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
S.S. in Uruguay
Serge Gainsbourg Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sous un chapeau de paille
Je siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
(SS in Uruguay)
Sous le soleil duraille
Les souvenirs m'assaillent
Il y a des couillonnes (woo-woo-woo)
Qui parlent d'extraditionne (woo-woo-woo)
Mais pour moi pas questionne (woo-woo-woo)
De payer l'additionne (woo-woo-woo)
(SS in Uruguay)
Je n'étais qu'un homme de paille
Mais je crains des représailles
Où que j'aille
(SS in Uruguay)
Sous un chapeau de paille
Je siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
(SS in Uruguay)
J'ai gardé de mes batailles
Croix gammée et médailles
En émail
Et toujours ces couillonnes (woo-woo-woo)
Qui parlent d'extraditionne (woo-woo-woo)
Mais pour moi pas questionne (woo-woo-woo)
De payer l'additionne (woo-woo-woo)
(SS in Uruguay)
J'ai ici de la canaille
Qui m'obéit au doigt, Heil!
Et à l'œil
The lyrics of Serge Gainsbourg's song S.S. in Uruguay describe the thoughts and memories of a former member of the Nazi SS organization who has taken refuge in Uruguay. The singer describes himself as a man of straw who fears reprisals for his past actions. Under a straw hat, he sips papaya juice while memories of his battles flood his mind. The mention of "woo-woo-woo" suggests that he may be mocking the women who talk about his extradition. He proclaims that he will not pay the price for his past actions.
The lyrics also contain a chilling reference to the singer's Nazi past. He kept his Nazi medals and swastika badge and seems to have command over an "obedient rabble" (J'ai ici de la canaille qui m'obéit au doigt, Heil! Et à l'œil) which hints at him still being involved in fascist activities. The song portrays a sense of guilt, fear and a strong sense of denial regarding his actions and any consequences they may have.
Line by Line Meaning
Sous un chapeau de paille
Under a straw hat
Je siffle un jus de papaye
I sip on a papaya juice
Avec paille
Using a straw
Sous le soleil duraille
Under the harsh sun
Les souvenirs m'assaillent
Memories attack me
Aïe aïe aïe!
Ouch ouch ouch!
Il y a des couillonnes (woo-woo-woo)
There are foolish women (woo-woo-woo)
Qui parlent d'extraditionne (woo-woo-woo)
Who talk about extradition (woo-woo-woo)
Mais pour moi pas questionne (woo-woo-woo)
But for me, no question (woo-woo-woo)
De payer l'additionne (woo-woo-woo)
Of paying the bill (woo-woo-woo)
Je n'étais qu'un homme de paille
I was just a straw man
Mais je crains des représailles
But I fear retaliation
Où que j'aille
Wherever I go
J'ai gardé de mes batailles
I kept from my battles
Croix gammée et médailles
Swastikas and medals
En émail
Enamel ones
Et toujours ces couillonnes (woo-woo-woo)
And still these foolish women (woo-woo-woo)
Qui parlent d'extraditionne (woo-woo-woo)
Who talk about extradition (woo-woo-woo)
Mais pour moi pas questionne (woo-woo-woo)
But for me, no question (woo-woo-woo)
De payer l'additionne (woo-woo-woo)
Of paying the bill (woo-woo-woo)
J'ai ici de la canaille
I have some riffraff here
Qui m'obéit au doigt, Heil!
Who obeys me, Heil!
Et à l'œil
And at a glance
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Alain Chamfort, Jean Chaleat, Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jack Cagliostro
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous un chapeau de paille
J'siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous le soleil duraille
Les souvenirs m'assaillent
Aïe aïe aïe
Il y a des couillonnes
Qui parlent d'extraditionne
Mais pour moi pas questionne
De payer l'additionne
S.S. in Uruguay
J'n'étais qu'un homme de paille
Mais j'crains des représailles
Où que j'aille
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous un chapeau de paille
J'siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
S.S. in Uruguay
J'ai gardé de mes batailles
Croix gammée et médailles
En émail
Et toujours ces couillonnes
Qui parlent d'extraditionne
Mais pour moi pas questionne
De payer l'additionne
S.S. in Uruguay
J'ai ici d'la canaille
Qui m'obéit au doigt
Heil ! Et à l'oeil
Homemade Video Production
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous un chapeau de paille
J'siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous le soleil duraille
Les souvenirs m'assaillent
Aïe aïe aïe
Il y a des couillonnes
Qui parlent d'extraditionne
Mais pour moi pas questionne
De payer l'additionne
S.S. in Uruguay
J'n'étais qu'un homme de paille
Mais j'crains des représailles
Où que j'aille
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous un chapeau de paille
J'siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
S.S. in Uruguay
J'ai gardé de mes batailles
Croix gammée et médailles
En émail
Et toujours ces couillonnes Qui parlent d'extraditionne
Mais pour moi pas questionne
De payer l'additionne
S.S. in Uruguay
J'ai ici d'la canaille
Qui m'obéit au doigt
Heil ! Et à l'oeil
mario foster vidal
APENAS....GÊNIO....MARAVILHAAA!
Jack Cagliostro
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous un chapeau de paille
J'siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous le soleil duraille
Les souvenirs m'assaillent
Aïe aïe aïe
Il y a des couillonnes
Qui parlent d'extraditionne
Mais pour moi pas questionne
De payer l'additionne
S.S. in Uruguay
J'n'étais qu'un homme de paille
Mais j'crains des représailles
Où que j'aille
S.S. in Uruguay
Sous un chapeau de paille
J'siffle un jus de papaye
Avec paille
S.S. in Uruguay
J'ai gardé de mes batailles
Croix gammée et médailles
En émail
Et toujours ces couillonnes
Qui parlent d'extraditionne
Mais pour moi pas questionne
De payer l'additionne
S.S. in Uruguay
J'ai ici d'la canaille
Qui m'obéit au doigt
Heil ! Et à l'oeil
Pytheas Fidus
Nostalgie d'une période où existait la liberté d'expression en France et où, à chaque fois que s'élevait une création un peu taquine, ne voyait pas l'emballement de tout un système pour détruire le contrevenant.
Benjamin Hanus
L'album avait quand même pas mal fait polémique à sa sortie on a même accuser Gainsbourg d'être antisémite alors qu'il était d'origine russe et juive
Otto Wulff
Master piece! This song really elevate me.
GM MG
J'adore. Une pépite quel génie ce mec
FlorenceLabenne
Excellent bonhomme !!
Ronald Charles Epstein
A great birthday present for Kurt Waldheim.
star droit
je suis née en 1993 mais tu me manque trooooooop !!
ferdinand renard
humour absolu... ! fallait oser !