Des laids des laids

Song Meaning

Serge Gainsbourg's "Des laids des laids" is a reggae-infused anthem for the aesthetically challenged, a sly celebration of inner beauty that thumbs its nose at conventional attractiveness. The song meaning isn't just skin deep; it's a layered commentary on self-acceptance, artistic license, and the subversive power of perceived ugliness. Gainsbourg, never one to shy away from provocative comparisons, immediately establishes the song's central conceit. He casts himself as Henry Miller – the hardcore provocateur – alongside his lover, his "little Marilyn." This isn't a claim to conventional beauty, but a declaration of raw, unapologetic sexuality and artistic freedom. He knows he's no Arthur Miller, the playwright and Marilyn's one-time husband. He is something far more dangerous, more visceral. The recurring refrain, sung with The I Threes, reinforces the song's core message: "La beauté cachée / Des laids, des laids / Se voit sans délai, délai" (The hidden beauty / Of the ugly, the ugly / Is seen without delay, delay). This isn't a plea for pity, but a confident assertion that true beauty lies beneath the surface, readily apparent to those who know where to look. The verse about his dog, whom everyone found ugly, adds another layer. The dog's death from cirrhosis, mirroring Gainsbourg's own hard-living lifestyle, suggests a deep empathy for those deemed undesirable by society. "C'est moi qui boit et c'est lui qu'est mort / D'une cirrhose / Peut-être était-ce par osmose / Tellement qu'il buvait mes paroles" (I'm the one who drinks and he's the one who died / Of cirrhosis / Perhaps it was by osmosis / So much that he drank my words). It's a darkly humorous, self-deprecating acknowledgement of his own flaws and the burden of his artistic vision. Ultimately, "Des laids des laids" is a complex and compelling exploration of beauty, ugliness, and the human condition. Gainsbourg acknowledges his own "sale gueule" (dirty face) but finds solace in the belief that even the "affreux" (hideous) are granted a measure of divine mercy. It's a sentiment that resonates deeply, offering a message of hope and acceptance to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider. The reggae rhythm, coupled with Gainsbourg's characteristically laconic delivery, creates a paradoxical effect: a celebratory lament, a defiant embrace of imperfection. The song's extended instrumental break, a showcase for Ansel Collins' organ skills, further underscores the idea that true beauty often lies in the unexpected, the unconventional, the things that defy easy categorization.