Ballade De Melody Nelson Lyrics in English by Serge Gainsbourg, Jane Birkin
Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Ballade De Melody Nelson by Serge Gainsbourg from French to English.
Ça c'est l'histoire de Melody Nelson
This is the story of Melody Nelson
Qu'à part moi-même personne
That besides myself nobody
N'a jamais pris dans ses bras
Has ever held in their arms
Ça vous étonne
Does that surprise you?
Mais c'est comme ça
But that's how it is
Elle avait de l'amour, pauvre Melody Nelson
She had love, poor Melody Nelson
Ouais, elle en avait des tonnes
Yeah, she had tons of it
Mais ses jours étaient comptés
But her days were numbered
Quatorze automnes et quinze étés
Fourteen autumns and fifteen summers
Un petit animal que cette Melody Nelson
What a little animal Melody Nelson was
Une adorable garçonne
An adorable tomboy
Et si délicieuse enfant
And such a delicious child
Que je n'ai connue qu'un instant
That I only knew for an instant
Oh, ma Melody, ma Melody Nelson
Oh, my Melody, my Melody Nelson
Aimable petite conne
Lovable little c*nt
Tu étais la condition
You were the condition
Sine qua non de ma raison
Sine qua non of my sanity
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Jean-Claude Vannier, Serge Gainsbourg
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garçonne — flapper / tomboy
Garçonne is a fascinating French word that emerged in the 1920s, literally meaning 'boy-girl'. It describes a woman who adopts a boyish style, often with short hair and more masculine clothing, challenging traditional gender norms.
In the song, Serge Gainsbourg uses it to describe Melody Nelson as "une adorable garçonne" (an adorable tomboy/flapper). This word perfectly captures her youthful, unconventional, and alluring character, making her stand out as a unique and memorable figure in French culture.
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