La Javanaise [English translation]

I confess, I went through hell, not you,

My love.

Before I got wind of you,1

My love.

Whether you admit it or not

As we danced the Javanaise,

We loved each other

For the time of one song.

In your opinion, what have we seen

Of love?

From you to me, you have had me,

My love.

Whether you admit it or not

As we danced the Javanaise,

We loved each other

For the time of one song.

Alas, April was in vain

When it came to love.

I felt like seeing

That love in you.

Whether you admit it or not

As we danced the Javanaise,

We loved each other

For the time of one song.

Life is not worth being lived

Without love,

But it's you who wanted it,

My love.

Whether you admit it or not

As we danced the Javanaise,

We loved each other

For the time of one song.

1. He uses the formal you, vous, rather than the familiar tu. While it is or at least was a custom among the rich to address even your wife or husband this way, I think here it implies that he hardly knew this woman, though he thought that he was in love with her.

• Artist:Serge Gainsbourg
• Album:La Javanaise EP (1963)