When Alain Bashung was one year old he was sent to the Strasbourg area, in Wingersheim, to stay with his grandparents. He spent his childhood in the country in a conservative environment. When he was five years old he discovered Music most notably Kurt Weill, as he played harmonica. He was also a Choirboy in the church at Wingersheim and played basket-ball. At School he was regarded serious child.
He returned to Paris in 1959, where he discovered the great names of Chanson Française, the radio, American Rock with Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley. Whilst studying to become an accountant, he started a short lived Band with friends “les Dunces” whose style swong between Folk and Rockabilly. He quickly dropped his studies.
Bashung started a band with musicians met in Royan, a new band playing in Restaurants, Hotels and most of all the American bases. his career started with some difficulties with the release of his first single at 19 years of age “Pourquoi rêvez-vous des États-Unis ?” in 1966. He released a dozen singles, one using the pseudonym David Bergen, and two others. In 1971/1972 under the pseudonym "Hendrick Darmen" compositor and singer of the band “Monkey Bizness”. He wrote a number of songs for stars of the time like Noël Deschamps, but doesn't appear to have reached success.
In 1973, he played Robespierre in the Musical “La Révolution française” written by Claude-Michel Schönberg. He met Dick Rivers the singer of Les Chats Sauvages, for whom he composed and produced music.
He met musician Andy Scott and the songwriter Boris Bergman, and in 1977 wrote his first innovative LP “Romans photos”, though it was a Commercial failure in the context of Punk storming music.
In 1979, he released “Roulette russe”, a very dark and more Rock orientated album.
He confirmed his talent with critical acclaim and public success in 1981, with the rock influenced album “pizza”, mainly with one single from the album “Gaby, oh Gaby” that finally got Bashung success in the charts in 1981 followed by the single “Vertige de l'amour”, and started touring the bigger venues Notably “l'Olympia” in Paris.
In 1982, Bashung collaborated with Serge Gainsbourg on the complex album “Play blessures”, that did not achieve commercial success.
In 1983, he confused his fan base with an album deviating from the previous rock style, “Figure imposée”. In 1985, he came back with a number of titles written for “SOS Racisme” (anti-racism organisation).
In 1986, he released “Passé le Rio Grande”, which won him a “Victoire de la Musique”. Two singles achieved some success over the airwaves: “Malédiction” and “L'arrivée du tour”. However the album itself did not sell much.
In 1992, he started a long partnership with writer Jean Fauque, for “Osez Joséphine”, an album which also contains some cover of classic Rock such as “Night in White Satin”. His fan base grew and the album sold 350 000 copies. In 1994, he followed up with “Chatterton,” collaborating with Sonny Landreth, Ally McErlaine, Link Wray, Marc Ribot and Stéphane Belmondo. The key single extracted from this album is “Ma petite entreprise.” He started a two-year tour that results in the 1995 live album, “Confessions publiques.”
After recording a duet with Brigitte Fontaine "City" for her album "Les Palaces", Bashung returned to the musical world following a stint acting and in 1998 with “Fantaisie militaire”. While making this album in collaboration with Rodolphe Burger, Les Valentins and Jean-Marc Lederman. He will receive three Victoires de la Musique for the Album in 1999.
In 2002, he released the “L'imprudence” album to further critical acclaim. During the same year, he recorded with his wife, actress and comedian Chloé Mons “le Cantique des cantiques”. They created this title for their wedding in 2001, on a music written by Rodolphe Burger and on the basis a a new translation of the “Cantique des cantiques” from the Bible by the Author Olivier Cadiot.
In 2004, he released live double album “La tournée des grands espaces."
In 2005, for the twentieth Victoires de la Musique, he received an award for the best album of the last 20 years for “Fantaisie militaire.”
In the beginning of 2007, he participates in the tour “Les Aventuriers d'un autre Monde” with Jean-Louis Aubert (Téléphone), Cali, Daniel Darc, Richard Kolinka (Téléphone) and Raphaeël.
In March 2009, he recieved three Victoires de la Musique for his last album "Bleu Pétrol".
He passed away on March 14th, 2009 of complications of metastatic lung cancer.
Herr Major
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Il revient le temps du muguet
Pas les yeux dans les poches
Avec les moutons y a pas de mai y a pas de mai
L'anguille est sous la roche
J'ai tous les noms sur mon cahier, tout y est
Antoine et Cléopâtre se sont revus, je l'ai su
Herr Major encore
À vue d'œil on s'améliore
Herr Major, encore, one more
L'ambiance est au pressing
Ma petite amie est vache
Elle joue du cor dès qu'elle se lève très à l'aise
Et ses parties de chasse
Mon kiki je te l'accorde raide, corde raide
L'anguille est sou sla roche
L'ennemi à mis le cheikh à la fraise
Vive la fraise
On a repris le pont d'Arcole
La guêpière en plein vol, pas folle
Frau Major nous cajole
Deux ou trois heures de colle
Je raffole
Herr Major encore
A vue d'œil on s'améliore
Herr Major, encore, one more
L'ambiance est au pressing
Zoé paye la note du jazz
Tout se passe comme prévu
L'oncle Tom recule de deux cases
Il a Zoé éperdue, perdue
Herr Major encore
À vue d'œil on s'améliore
Herr Major, encore, one more
L'ambiance est au pressing
Pas de sous dans les poches
The lyrics of Alain Bashung's song Herr Major are quite abstract and difficult to interpret. The song is a mix of surrealistic images, political references, and personal stories, all blended together in a dream-like sequence. One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that the song is about power and control, and the different ways people use it to achieve their goals.
The first verse seems to suggest that time is cyclical and that the past always comes back in some form. The "muguet" (lily of the valley) is a symbol of hope and renewal, but it is also associated with May Day, a political holiday in France. The line "avec les moutons y a pas de mai" (sheep don't celebrate May Day) could be a criticism of conformity and apathy. The next lines refer to secrets and hidden knowledge, as if the singer knows all the names and secrets of those in power.
The chorus introduces the character of Herr Major, who could be a reference to a Nazi officer or a generic authoritarian figure. The phrase "encore, one more" suggests that the singer is somehow complicit or fascinated by Herr Major's actions. The rest of the lyrics are a mix of personal anecdotes and obscure references. The lines "la guêpière en plein vol" (the girdle in full flight) and "deux ou trois heures de colle" (two or three hours of detention) seem to refer to sexual and disciplinary situations, respectively.
Overall, Herr Major is a cryptic and enigmatic song that invites different interpretations. The lyrics are full of poetry, irony, and ambiguity, and the music adds to the dream-like quality of the song. The themes of power, control, and submission are central to the song, but they are explored through a variety of images and metaphors that can be difficult to decipher.
Line by Line Meaning
Pas les yeux dans les poches
We can't keep our eyes to ourselves; we need to watch what's going around us and stay vigilant.
Il revient le temps du muguet
Spring has arrived, and with it, the season of happiness and joy.
Avec les moutons y a pas de mai y a pas de mai
When we follow others blindly, we may not experience the true essence of life and miss out on the special moments.
L'anguille est sous la roche
There is something suspicious hiding under the surface, and we must be wary of it.
J'ai tous les noms sur mon cahier, tout y est
I have documented everything, and I know what's going on around me.
Antoine et Cléopâtre se sont revus, je l'ai su
I heard a rumor that Antoine and Cleopatra met again, and I have all the details.
Herr Major encore
Here comes Herr Major again.
À vue d'œil on s'améliore
We are getting better day by day, and it's evident to everyone.
Herr Major, encore, one more
Here comes Herr Major again, and he's not done yet.
L'ambiance est au pressing
Things are getting tense and intense around us, and we need to deal with them quickly.
Ma petite amie est vache
My girlfriend is difficult to deal with and causing a lot of trouble.
Elle joue du cor dès qu'elle se lève très à l'aise
She is extremely confident and arrogant, and she loves to show off.
Et ses parties de chasse
She loves to go hunting, and it's one of her favorite pastimes.
Mon kiki je te l'accorde raide, corde raide
My dog is loyal and always ready to stand by my side, no matter the situation.
L'ennemi à mis le cheikh à la fraise
The enemy has defeated the leader, and he's now in a difficult position.
Vive la fraise
Hurray for the strawberry, a fruit that symbolizes vitality and happiness.
On a repris le pont d'Arcole
We have regained control of the situation and achieved a significant victory.
La guêpière en plein vol, pas folle
She knows how to maintain her elegance and charm, even in the most challenging situations.
Frau Major nous cajole
Frau Major is using her charm and persuasion to get what she wants from us.
Deux ou trois heures de colle
We've been given detention for a few hours as punishment.
Je raffole
I love it!
Zoé paye la note du jazz
Zoe is paying for the jazz music we're enjoying.
Tout se passe comme prévu
Everything is going according to our plan.
L'oncle Tom recule de deux cases
Uncle Tom is losing his grip on the situation, and he's falling behind.
Il a Zoé éperdue, perdue
Zoe has unsettled Uncle Tom, and he's now in a confused state of mind.
Pas de sous dans les poches
I have no money in my pockets right now.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alain B.
on La fille de la maison des dunes
Elle verra la vie qu’il me faut
Dans du marc de thé chaud
Car elle sait tous les secrets du tarot
Je me noie dans ses cheveux noirs
(je) Suis enfin au pouvoir
Car elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
Elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
Je me vois comme un bout d’étoile
Dans sa boule de cristal
Et je ne vois pas bien ou est le mal
Où est le mal
D’accord elle est un peu sorcière
La fille aux mains de pierre
Mais elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
Elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
Plus je me la mets dans la tête
Plus j’deviens une sorte de mouette
Plus je vole dans son monde de flou
Plus je m’éloigne de vous
Je me brûle à son soleil noir
Terriens, bonsoir…
Oui elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
Elle m’apprend à aimer et à voir
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
La fille de la maison des dunes
La fille des brumes
…