(For some reason this version with France Gall won’t embed, but it’s the more interesting video.)
While halfheartedly attempting to seduce a woman named Lola, Serge confuses ends and means, getting caught up with a demanding rhyme scheme demanding endless words ending -endre.
Serge, courting a shy woman, anticipates the shock she will experience when she notices that his mouth is watering.
Serge tells his dance partner to stay in the moment and not stress too much about what will happen after the song ends.
Innocent young Serge uses a poem by Alfred de Musset to tell off a more experienced woman who has corrupted his poor tender heart.
In this Missing Persons report set to music, someone named Jane B. — whose description is a curious amalgam of Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg — has disappeared, then is found dead.
In the closing track to Melody Nelson, Serge delivers an impromptu lesson on the so-called “cargo cults” of the South Pacific, speculates on the fate of Melody after her crash — and reveals that he’s been praying to the cargo cults himself.
In the penultimate track on Melody Nelson, the titular heroine laughs manically over a maniacal instrumental — and then Serge delivers a brief voiceover outro explaining the circumstances of her death.
In the fifth track on Melody Nelson, Serge brings Melody to a fancy underground brothel.
In the fourth track of Melody Nelson, Serge becomes jealous and threatening.
In the third song from Melody Nelson, Serge describes the change of perspective that Melody’s love has occasioned.