Bébé Requin – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: France Gall

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the playful world of French Yé-yé pop with France Gall's "Bébé Requin." This iconic 1960s track offers a unique blend of catchy melodies and charmingly mischievous lyrics, perfect for immersing yourself in French language and culture. You can discover common French phrases and expressions, as well as gain insight into the playful and metaphorical language often found in French popular music.

[English]

Come, follow me

I know a road of enamel

That leads to the land of pearls and coral

I am a baby shark

With a white belly, and pearly teeth

In the warm waters, I will lead you

And without you knowing

With love, with gentleness

Me, pretty baby shark

I want to devour your heart

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

Come play

Play leapfrog on the waves

I will take you down into a sky of sand

I am a baby shark

With a white belly, and pearly teeth

In the warm waters, I will lead you

And without you knowing

With love, with gentleness

Me, pretty baby shark

I want to devour your heart

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

To keep you

I will fight against my sisters

I want to be the only one to eat your heart

I am a baby shark

With a white belly, and pearly teeth

In the warm waters, I will lead you

And without you knowing

With love, with gentleness

Me, pretty baby shark

I want to devour your heart

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

Baby shark, baby velvet

Baby shark, baby love

...

[French]

Viens, suis-moi

Je connais une route d'émail

Qui mène au pays de perles et de corail

Je suis un bébé requin

Au ventre blanc, aux dents nacrées

Dans les eaux chaudes je t'entraînerai

Et sans que tu le sache

Avec amour avec douceur

Moi joli bébé requin

Je veux te dévorer le coeur

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Viens jouer

Jouer à saute mouton sur les vagues

Je vais te faire descendre dans un ciel de sable

Je suis un bébé requin

Au ventre blanc, aux dents nacrées

Dans les eaux chaudes je t'entraînerai

Et sans que tu le sache

Avec amour avec douceur

Moi joli bébé requin

Je veux te dévorer le coeur

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Pour te garder

Moi je me battrai contre mes soeurs

Je veux être la seule à te manger le coeur

Je suis un bébé requin

Au ventre blanc, aux dents nacrées

Dans les eaux chaudes je t'entraînerai

Et sans que tu le sache

Avec amour avec douceur

Moi joli Bébé requin

Je veux te dévorer le coeur

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Bébé requin bébé velours

Bébé requin bébé d'amour

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
connais /kɔ.nɛ/ A2	verb - to know (someone or a fact)
mène /mɛn/ A2	verb - to lead or direct
mène /mɛn/ A2	verb - to lead or direct
requin /ʁə.kɛ̃/ B1	noun - shark
dents /dɑ̃/ A2	noun - teeth
nacrées /na.kʁe/ B2	adjective - mother-of-pearl (related to nacre, iridescent shell)
vitesse /vi.tɛs/ B1	noun - speed
cheveux /ʃə.vø/ A2	noun - hair
sang /sɑ̃/ B1	noun - blood
amour /a.muʁ/ A2	noun - love
cœur /kœʁ/ A2	noun - heart
chaud /ʃo/ A2	adjective - hot or warm

Key Grammar Structures

• Je connais une route d'émail

  ➔ The verb 'connaître' used with 'une route d'émail' (a noun phrase) to express familiarity or knowledge.

  ➔ 'Connaître' means 'to know' or 'to be familiar with', here indicating knowledge of a specific route.

• Je suis un bébé requin

  ➔ Use of 'être' (to be) in the present tense to identify oneself as 'a baby shark'.

  ➔ 'Être' is the verb 'to be' in French, used here to define or describe the subject.

• Je veux te dévorer le coeur

  ➔ Use of 'vouloir' (to want) + infinitive to express desire, with direct object 'te dévorer le coeur'.

  ➔ 'Vouloir' means 'to want', and when combined with an infinitive, it expresses desire or intention.

• Je suis un bébé requin au ventre blanc, aux dents nacrées

  ➔ Use of 'suis' (from 'être') in the present tense to describe identity and physical features with adjectives.

  ➔ 'Suis' is the first person singular present of 'être', used here to describe the subject's identity and physical attributes.

• Et sans que tu le sache

  ➔ Use of 'sans que' + subjunctive to express action happening without awareness or knowledge of another.

  ➔ 'Sans que' introduces a clause in the subjunctive mood to indicate that the action occurs without the knowledge of the subject.

• Je veux te dévorer le coeur

  ➔ Use of 'vouloir' (to want) with infinitive; here, expressing a figurative desire to 'devour' someone's heart.

  ➔ 'Vouloir' + infinitive expresses desire, and here, it is used metaphorically to mean wanting to deeply affect or 'consume' someone's feelings.