Melody
J.Birkin Lyrics
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De Melody Nelson
Qu'à part moi-même, personne
N'a jamais pris dans ses bras
Ça vous étonne
Mais c'est comme ça
Elle avait d'l'amour
Ouais, elle en avait des tonnes
Mais ses jours étaient comptés
Quatorze automnes
Et quinze étés
Un petit animal
Que cette Melody Nelson
Une adorable garçonne
Et si délicieuse enfant
Que je n'ai connue qu'un instant
Oh, ma Melody
Ma Melody Nelson
Aimable petite conne
Tu étais la condition
Sine qua non
De ma raison
The lyrics of J. Birkin's song "Melody" tell a story about a girl called Melody Nelson. According to the song, no one but the singer has ever held her in their arms. Melody is depicted as a young girl, only 14 autumns and 15 summers. Despite her youth, she had a lot of love to give but her days were numbered. The singer describes Melody as a small, adorable girl who he only knew for an instant. The song culminates in the singer exclaiming, "Oh, ma Melody, ma Melody Nelson. Aimable petite conne, tu étais la condition sine qua non de ma raison," which translates into "Oh, my Melody, my Melody Nelson. Adorable little idiot, you were the necessary condition for my reason."
Line by Line Meaning
Ça c'est l'histoire de Melody Nelson
This is the story of Melody Nelson
Qu'à part moi-même personne
That no one except myself
N'a jamais pris dans ses bras
Has ever held her in their arms
Ça vous étonne
Are you surprised?
Mais c'est comme ça
But that's just how it is
Elle avait de l'amour, pauvre Melody Nelson
Poor Melody Nelson had love in abundance
Ouais, elle en avait des tonnes
Yes, 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
Melody Nelson was like a small animal
Une adorable garçonne
A lovely young girl
Et si délicieuse enfant
And such a delightful child
Que je n'ai connue qu'un instant
That I only knew for a moment
Oh, ma Melody, ma Melody Nelson
Oh, my Melody, my Melody Nelson
Aimable petite conne
My lovable little fool
Tu étais la condition
You were the condition
Sine qua non de ma raison
The essential element of my reason
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Jean-Claude Vannier, Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind