Serge Gainsbourg: Melody

[anatsuno]

So there's been  a great big "hommage à Serge Gainsbourg" show the Hollywood bowl and I WANTED TO BE THERE SO HARD QSSDFDHGF.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt was there to perform the opening song of the Melody Nelson concept album, which is more os a spoken monologue - and this led me to post in my journal both the lyrics & a translation I did, as well as the lyrics of another favorite Gainsbourg song of mine and a download link.

I thought I'd repost the lyrics & translation here, as might be more appropriate / generate more interest. :)

Any comment welcome, from questions to translation critique - this was done rather quickly. Fun, though!



Melody

Lyrics Les ailes de la Rolls effleuraient des pylônes Quand m'étant malgré moi égaré Nous arrivâmes ma Rolls et moi dans une zone Dangereuse, un endroit isolé Là-bas, sur le capot de cette Silver Ghost De dix-neuf cent dix s'avance en éclaireur La Vénus d'argent du radiateur Dont les voiles légers volent aux avant-postes Hautaine, dédaigneuse, tandis que hurle le poste De radio couvrant le silence du moteur Elle fixe l'horizon et l'esprit ailleurs Semble tout ignorer des trottoirs que j'accoste Ruelles, culs-de-sac aux stationnements Interdits par la loi, le coeur indifférent Elle tient le mors de mes vingt-six chevaux-vapeurs Princesse des ténèbres, archange maudit, Amazone modern' style que le sculpteur, En anglais, surnomma Spirit of Ecstasy Ainsi je déconnais avant que je ne perde Le contrôle de la Rolls. J'avançais lentement Ma voiture dériva et un heurt violent Me tira soudain de ma rêverie. Merde! J'aperçus une roue de vélo à l'avant, Qui continuait de rouler en roue libre, Et comme une poupée qui perdait l'équilibre La jupe retroussée sur ses pantalons blancs "Tu t'appelles comment ? - Melody - Melody comment ? - Melody Nelson." Melody Nelson a des cheveux rouges Et c'est leur couleur naturelle

(quick! dirty!) translation The wings of the Rolls were skimming the fenceposts As, having unwittingly lost my way My Rolls and I arrived to a Dangerous zone, an isolated spot. Ahead, on the bonnet of the Silver Ghost From nineteen-ten, like a scout thrusts forward The silver Venus on the hood, Her featherlight veils fluttering in the vanguard Haughty, disdainful, while the howling radio Smothers the silence of the engine Gaze fixed the horizon, her mind wandering Seems to ignore the street corners I cruise Alleys, dead-ends where there's no parking According to law... Her heart indifferent, Grasping the reins of my twenty-six horses Princess of darkness, accursèd archangel, Art Nouveau Amazon called by her sculptor, In English, Spirit of Ecstasy So I was raving & rambling 'fore I lost Control of the Rolls. I was going slowly, The car drifted and a violent jolt jerked me suddenly from my reverie. Fuck! I glimpsed before me the wheel of a bike Rolling forward, freewheeling, And, like a doll losing her balance Skirt hitched up over white trousers "What's your name?" "Melody." "Melody who?" "Melody Nelson." Melody Nelson has red hair. And it's her natural color.

john helped me make this better & deserves credit too! :)