"Lying With You" is a song by Charlotte Gainsbourg. The lyrics depict a complex and somewhat eerie narrative. In the first verse, Gainsbourg describes touching a wax face that has scared someone away. The woman in question had a bare leg sticking out from under the sheets, seemingly without shame and with a cool demeanor. There is a trail of blood at the corner of her mouth, which the person who fled would not have liked. Gainsbourg mentions being in bed with this person, taking the liberty to do so without hesitation. In the chorus, Gainsbourg's feet are hovering above the ground, ready to follow, and her mouth is whispered in ecstasy, celebrating the person she is addressing. The second verse talks about Gainsbourg's desire to imagine that she was the only one who loved this person, with a genuine and innocent love. She likens them to a poor, frozen puppet. She wonders where her kiss has gone when the coffin was closed. Gainsbourg can still hear the sound of nails being hammered, suggesting a burial. She feels lost, while the other person is lost in death. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing Gainsbourg's willingness to dream of a happy ending and pretend that they are together, even if it's only in her imagination. The song concludes with the line, "Lying with you," suggesting that the act of lying down with this person, either literally or metaphorically, brings her comfort. The meaning of the song appears to revolve around themes of death, loss, and the longing for a connection with someone, even if it's only in one's imagination. The lyrics are poetic and open to interpretation, but they evoke a sense of melancholy and desperation.
