These days, most people know the version of Lady Marmalade that was in Moulin Rouge.
You know, the one with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, and Pink.
But the song is actually quite a bit older. It was a big hit for Labelle back in the 1970s.
The newer version is a bit different, but the Lady Marmalade lyrics meaning has not changed.
What has changed is that more people are aware of the somewhat racy meaning.
In the 1970s, even some members of Labelle had no idea what they were actually singing!
So what is the song about then? Keep reading to find out.
Table of Contents
Lady Marmalade Lyrics And Meaning
Lady Marmalade was a track released in 1974 by the American girl group Labelle. This song is arguably Labelle’s most famous and it’s no surprise. It was an instant hit when it was released and is still a very popular track today, 50 years later.
Lady Marmalade peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 Charts, which was an incredible achievement for a song that wasn’t even intended for Labelle.
The song was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan with the intention of being used by Nolan’s disco group. However, thanks to producer Allen Toussaint, Labelle recorded the song, because Toussaint felt it was better suited for the girl band. The history of the track suggests he was correct.
Crewe and Nolan got the idea for the song based on observing the ladies of the night in the French Quarter of the city of New Orleans. This setting is the reason for the inclusion of two languages in the song: French and English. It was originally written completely in French. We have to wonder whether it would have been as big of a hit across the globe if it had remained a French song.
Lady Marmalade’s popularity began to grow again at the beginning of the 21st century when a remake of the song was used in the 2001 film Moulin Rouge.
The version of the song used for this film was recorded by some of the top female artists at the time, including Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, and Pink. We included this version in our lists of best songs for stripping and best songs for women to sing at karaoke.
The film and music video boosted the new version of the song to a new level and audience. It became popular with the younger generation, who weren’t even born when the original was released.
As a result, most weren’t aware of the controversy the somewhat racy lyrics to Lady Marmalade stirred up. What was it that had people upset? Let’s take a look at the lyrics and find out.
Lady Marmalade Lyrics
Intro
Hey sister, go sister
Soul sister, go sister
Hey sister, go sister
Soul sister, go sister
Verse 1
He met Marmalade down in old New Orleans
Strutting her stuff on the street
She said, “Hello, hey Joe
You wanna give it a go?” hmm hmm
Chorus
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Verse 2
He stayed in her boudoir (Hey sister, go sister)
While she freshened up (Soul sister, go sister)
That boy drank all that magnolia wine
(Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, go sister)
On her black satin sheets
Where he started to freak
Chorus
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Verse 3
Hey, hey, hey
Touching her skin, feeling silky smooth (Ah!)
Color of cafe au lait
Made the savage beast inside
Roar until it cried
“More, more, more!”
Now he’s at home doing nine to five
Living his grey flannel life
But when he turns off to sleep
Old memories creep
More, more, more!
Chorus
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Creole Lady Marmalade
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Creole Lady Marmalade
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous couchez avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?
Gitchi gitchi ya ya da da
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Mocha chocolata, ya ya
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here (Ya ya ya ya)
Gitchi gitchi ya ya here
Lady Marmalade Meaning
The meaning of the song may come as a shock to many, especially those who aren’t fluent in French. The song has quite a racy theme, much of which is hidden in the French words of the song.
The song is about an encounter between a man and a woman one night in New Orleans. The encounter leaves a lasting impression on the man, as he struggles to stop thinking about it.
The woman referenced in the song is actually a lady of the night, a sex worker. The lyrics “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?” translate to “Do you want to sleep with me tonight?” These lyrics are what caused upset among various religious groups and communities when the song came out.
If you were unaware of what the lyrics translated to, then you’re not the only one. Even some of the band members of Labelle were unaware of what they were singing.
Patti Labelle, a member of Labelle, revealed in an interview, “We thought it was a woman just walking down the street – it didn’t register that it might be about something else. We were very innocent, and I had no clue. I was very naive.”
In the 1970’s, society strictly judged a group of women singing about sexual endeavors. Things sure have changed, when you consider the lyrics to many songs by women these days. Lady Marmalade played some part in the general acceptance of women being able to voice their opinions, even about more salacious topics.
We have to wonder if this song would have been received completely differently, if it weren’t for Toussaint wanting to give it to girl group Labelle. Men singing about sexual encounters in the 1970’s probably would not have been judged as much.
But maybe that judgment and initial negative press were what helped propel this song to the heights it reached. It was certainly something different that stood out from the rest.
Lady Marmalade Lyrics Meaning: Final Thoughts
Lady Marmalade is a song that pushed the boundaries of its era with its bold and provocative subject matter. Despite the seemingly innocuous melody, the Lady Marmalade lyrics meaning reveals a tale of a nocturnal encounter with a sex worker, a theme that is cleverly veiled by the use of French language.
The controversy it sparked and the naivety of some of its own performers, like Patti Labelle, highlight the societal taboos of the 1970s regarding women’s expression of sexuality in music.
The song’s success and its role in challenging these norms paved the way for more open discussions and representations of female sexuality in the music industry, marking Lady Marmalade as a significant cultural milestone.
It also happens to feature one of the most powerful female vocalists ever. Check out our discussion of the meaning of the Dog Days Are Over lyrics for another song with a powerful female vocalist.
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