For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams is gettin’ jiggy with us. His theme is Desire, Lust, Romance, and Passion. Alrighty then. Let’s go with “Lady Marmalade” by LaBelle.

“Lady Marmalade” was written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan. The song is famous for its sexually suggestive chorus of “Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?” The English translation, for those unfamiliar with that refrain, is “Do you want to go to bed with me tonight?” The song first became a popular hit when it was recorded in 1974 by the American girl group, LaBelle.

This was the only hit credited to LaBelle. Patti LaBelle, the lead singer of the trio, recorded in the Sixties as Patti LaBelle and The Blue Belles

The song was inspired by New Orleans prostitutes in the French Quarter, which was near the city’s red-light district. Labelle’s recording turned the song into an outrageous party anthem which went along with their glamorous look and sexual persona, earning them a huge following in the gay community. The song was highly suggestive and it did ruffle some feathers, partly because it seemed to glamorize prostitution.

In an interview, LaBelle claimed she didn’t know the real meaning of the song until much later. “I swear I had no idea for a while what it meant, until I asked Bob Crewe, who recorded it. I asked him what ‘voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?’ meant. When he told me, I said, ‘Oh gosh, what will my mother think?’”

Here are the lyrics to the song.

Hey Sister, Go Sister, Soul Sister, Go Sister
Hey Sister, Go Sister, Soul Sister, Go Sister

He met Marmalade down in old New Orleans
Struttin’ her stuff on the street
She said ‘Hello,
Hey Joe, you wanna give it a go? Mmm, mmm

Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da
Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya here
Mocha-choca-lata Ya Ya
Creole Lady Marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

He sat in her boudoir while she freshened up
The boy drank all her magnolia-wine
On the black satin sheets where oh I swear he started to freak

Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da
Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya here
Mocha-choca-lata Ya Ya
Creole Lady Marmalade

Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?
Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?

Hey, hey, hey
Touching her skin feelin’ silky smooth
The color of cafe au lait
Made the savage beast inside
Roar until it cried, more, more, more

Now he’s back home doing 9 to 5
Living his grey flannel life
But when he turns off to sleep
Old memories creep, more, more, more

Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da
Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya here
Mocha-choca-lata 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 coucher 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?

Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya Da Da
Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya here
Mocha-choca-lata Ya Ya
Itchi Gitchi Ya Ya here