Jesse Jarnow

“if you rescue me” – gael garcia bernal & co.

“If You Rescue Me” – the cast of Science of Sleep (download here)
from Science of Sleep OST (2006)
released by Astralwerks (buy)

(file expires January 22nd)

Hearing “If You Rescue Me” in the middle of Michel Gondry’s Science of Sleep threw me for a loop. Like trying desperately to recall a dream, appropriately enough, I knew the melody that Gael Garcia Bernal and the cast were singing, but couldn’t place it until the performance was almost over: the Velvet Underground’s “After Hours” (one of the loveliest of the all-time lovelies).

I have no idea where the new lyrics came from, but I love the mood they create, of being lost in a grotesque adult world: “all the cars drive so fast, and the people are mean, and sometimes it’s hard to find food.” Like Cat Power’s approach on her Covers Record, the rewrite is something like a literal interpretation: a verbal articulation of the song’s emotional content that somehow happens to also fit the constraints of the original melody. Pleasant coincidence, eh?

14 Comments

  1. max says: - reply

    Hey Jesse,
    i had the same feeling when i heared that song in The Science of Sleep. Could you maybe send me the song through email? Yr yousendit file has expired. Would be very happy if you could. Thank you!
    max ([email protected])

  2. elanor says: - reply

    do you know the lyrics to the song?

  3. Gaderas says: - reply

    hey! I really love this song.. Though the file is expired.. Could someone please send it to me? I really want this song..

  4. Anonymous says: - reply

    Hey,
    Well, I see some “if you rescue me” people here … : ) I havent managed to find lyrics anywhere, but as I feel … someone have them here,
    so,
    could you PLEASE PLEASE send them to me –
    [email protected]
    that would be your little random act of kindness
    well, actually a great one
    : ) thank you !

  5. Luthfy says: - reply

    If You Rescue Me (Chanson Des Chats)
    If you rescue me,
    I’ll be your friend forever,
    Let me in your bed,
    I’ll keep you warm in winter,
    All the kiddies are playing
    and they’re having such fun,
    I wish that could happen to me,
    But if you rescue me,
    I’ll never have to be alone again.
    Oh the cars drive so fast
    and the people are mean,
    and sometimes it’s hard to find food,
    let me into your room,
    I’ll keep you warm and amused,
    all the things we can do in the rain
    If you rescue me,
    I’ll be your friend forever,
    Let me in your bed,
    I’ll keep you warm in winter,
    Oh someday I know
    someone will look into my eyes
    and say, “Hello, you’re my very special kitten,”
    So if you rescue me,
    I’ll never have to be alone again x 3
    As far as iknow, this song is about kitten/little cat who need somekind of help or protection…
    tell me if i’m wrong…

  6. tRezzhie says: - reply

    wow.. so this song is about a kitten?? i didn’t recognize.. anywayy, thx for the lyrics, anonymous

  7. Seba! says: - reply

    “all the cars drive so fast, and the people are mean, and sometimes it’s hard to find food.”
    i love this`part of the movie, the lyric is sad but also very romantic and they apears dressed like kittens….
    thanks for the lyrics.

  8. Haru says: - reply

    Oh、I love that part too.
    “Science of Sleep “is now showing in Japan.

  9. Anonymous says: - reply

    doesn’t say kiddies, it’s kitties
    All the kitties are playing

  10. Alexis says: - reply

    YAY! I SO love this song! Thank you for the lyrics, whoever!

  11. Alexis says: - reply

    I think it’s partly about a kitten, and partly a metaphor asking for Stephanie to just love him nad help him. But I could be WAAAAAY ovethinking it. I kinda like it to be about a kitten anyway! Yay Kittens!!! =^.^=

  12. ellaberry says: - reply

    aww it’s not looking too far into it to see it being more about cats! it’s obviously he feels lost and alone and wanting to be cared for, just as a little kitten, and that’s what the song is about. can’t you see the similarity to a kitten he has the whole film? but thanks for finding out who does the original song as it was really bothering me, as i defo recognised it!
    thanks, xoxoxoxo ella

  13. tom says: - reply

    thanbks for teh lyrics of if you rescue me, i love this movie from michel gondry, so beautifull,

  14. Miriam says: - reply

    omg i love this song…does anyone know where i can download this song for ituners

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