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.
Tu touches pas à mon pote
Alain Bashung Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tu passes les blacks à tabac
Dans un moment d'égarement
Il te vient les sanglots
Séparer les blancs des jaunes
Fouetter généreusement
On n'est jamais à l'abri
D'une piqûre de meringue
Gay luron et guet-apens
Sont sur le même bateau
L'un des deux tombe à l'eau
Ils auront pas d'enfant
Quand ça roule trop mal à Barbès
D'enfer, étoile, nation
Qu'est-ce qu'on joue
Je tends l'autre fesse
Nuit d'Amazonie
Via Cabourg, Bangkok
Tous les hommes sont gris
Tu es tellement so
Arôme d'Arabica?
Partout tu fais des trous partout
Tu touches pas à mon pote
Qu'est-ce qui fais courir David
Comment veux-tu qu'on l'attrape
Rappelle Gégène, je fais un bide
Juste pour le plaisir
Qui a vendu la mèche
Et la petite moustache avec
À votre bunker messieurs dames
Salut les Kopecks
Nuit d'Amazonie
Via Cabourg, Bangkok
Tous les hommes sont gris
Tu es tellement so
Arôme d'Arabica
Partout tu fais des trous partout
Tu touches pas à mon pote
The lyrics to Alain Bashung's song "Tu touches pas à mon pote" touch on various themes and social issues. The opening lines depict a moment of desperation when one has run out of drugs to smoke. In this state of mind, the person then resorts to attacking Black people, illustrating the harmful consequences of drug abuse on one's behavior. However, the lyrics also reveal a sense of regret and vulnerability when the individual breaks down into tears. The reference to separating "blancs des jaunes" (whites from Asians) and whipping them highlights racial tensions and violence fueled by ignorance and prejudice.
The lyrics then take a shift towards discussing the connection between homosexuality and danger. The line "Gay luron et guet-apens, sont sur le même bateau" (Gay fun and ambush, are on the same boat) implies that being gay puts one at risk of potential harm, reflected in the metaphor of falling into the water and not being able to have children. This can be interpreted as commentary on the social stigma and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
The song then moves to references of various locations, such as Barbès, Enfer, Etoile, and Nation, suggesting a journey through different places and experiences. The line "Je tends l'autre fesse" (I offer the other cheek) alludes to vulnerability and submission in the face of adversity.
The repeated mention of "Nuit d'Amazonie" (Amazonian night) and references to Cabourg and Bangkok evoke a sense of exoticism and escapism. The phrase "Tous les hommes sont gris" (All men are gray) implies a sense of emptiness or conformity in these settings, and the line "Tu es tellement so, arôme d'Arabica" (You are so, aroma of Arabica) could be referencing a seductive or mysterious presence that leaves a mark wherever it goes.
The song ends with mentions of David (possibly a reference to the biblical figure) and Gégène, both representing elusive and unattainable figures. The line "Salut les Kopecks" (Hello Kopecks) likely refers to the Russian currency and may symbolize the collapse of former Soviet Union countries, adding a political undertone to the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand t'as plus rien à fumer
When you have nothing left to smoke
Tu passes les blacks à tabac
You beat up black people
Dans un moment d'égarement
In a moment of confusion
Il te vient les sanglots
You start crying
Séparer les blancs des jaunes
Separating whites from Asians
Fouetter généreusement
Whip generously
On n'est jamais à l'abri
We are never safe
D'une piqûre de meringue
From a meringue injection
Gay luron et guet-apens
Cheerful and ambush
Sont sur le même bateau
Are in the same boat
L'un des deux tombe à l'eau
One of them falls into the water
Ils auront pas d'enfant
They won't have children
Quand ça roule trop mal à Barbès
When things go too wrong in Barbès
D'enfer, étoile, nation
Hell, star, nation
Qu'est-ce qu'on joue
What is being played
Je tends l'autre fesse
I offer the other cheek
Nuit d'Amazonie
Night in Amazonia
Via Cabourg, Bangkok
Via Cabourg, Bangkok
Tous les hommes sont gris
All men are gray
Tu es tellement so
You are so cool
Arôme d'Arabica?
Arabica flavor?
Partout tu fais des trous partout
Everywhere you make holes
Tu touches pas à mon pote
Don't touch my friend
Qu'est-ce qui fais courir David
What makes David run
Comment veux-tu qu'on l'attrape
How do you expect us to catch him
Rappelle Gégène, je fais un bide
Remind Gégène, I'm failing
Juste pour le plaisir
Just for pleasure
Qui a vendu la mèche
Who spilled the beans
Et la petite moustache avec
And the little mustache with it
À votre bunker messieurs dames
To your bunker ladies and gentlemen
Salut les Kopecks
Hello rubles
Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alain BASHUNG, Gerard BERGMAN
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
…