Song meaning of La Noyée by Serge Gainsbourg

The song "La Noyée" by Serge Gainsbourg tells the story of a person who is drifting away on the river of memories, while the speaker desperately tries to get them to come back. The lyrics depict a sense of longing, as the speaker is running along the shore, trying to catch up with the one who is drifting away. The imagery of running and slowly regaining lost ground symbolizes the speaker's efforts to hold on to the fading connection.

The second verse introduces the element of hesitation and fear. The person drifting away occasionally submerges themselves in the moving liquid or hesitates near thorny obstacles. They hide their face and hold their dress up, indicating a fear of being disfigured and a concern for shame and regret.

In the final verse, the person drifting away is portrayed as a wreck, a dead dog in the water. Nevertheless, the speaker remains devoted and willingly dives into the stream. The ending lines suggest that even when the memories stop and the oblivion takes over, our hearts and minds are forever linked.

Overall, the lyrics of "La Noyée" convey a theme of lost love and the desperate attempts to hold on to a fading connection. It reflects the longing for someone who has drifted away, the fear of losing them or being forgotten, and the unwavering dedication to maintaining that bond, even in the face of inevitable separation.