From Montréal, Bernard Adamus was noticed by his presence at the Festival e… Read Full Bio ↴From Montréal, Bernard Adamus was noticed by his presence at the Festival en chanson de Petite-Vallée in 2009 where he won 6 awards.

His atypical group, mixing Delta blues and the "Main" also includes Benoit Paradis with the trombone, Éric Villeneuve at the drums, Taï Nguyen with the banjo and guitar. They are sometimes joined by Sylvain Delisle with the contra-bass.

Bernard Adamus is inspired by old American blues, Montréal daily life, gospel music, love, country music and Quebecer lyricism.

Launched Mai 4th, 2009 at Cheval Blanc in Montréal his first album, Brun, is well received.

In 2010, he participated in Francouverte and won first prize.

... de toilette
Bernard Adamus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dans mon cerveau j’ai comme des barreaux
A’ec un billet perdant de la Loto
Les pieds dans l’brun la tête dans’ marde
Le souper qui traîne deux heures sa’ table
Boire des frettes pis me t’nir drette
Me sens pas plus fort qu’une allumette

Chus ben assis dans mon salon, y mouille dehors su’l balcon

Et un jour il f’ra plus beau dans mon bol de toilette

Un jour la bol, a va flusher
M’a pouvoir rire de toé pis d’moé
Mais en attendant, c’est ben bouché
Ça déborde sur le plancher

Chus ben assis dans mon salon, y mouille dehors su’l balcon
Et un jour il f’ra plus beau dans mon bol de toilette

Quand j’entends Rock Détente
Feeling de gun s’a tempe
Ciccone y m’donne mal au ventre
Les bras pétés avec le doigt dans l’nez
Les pants sales tout croches avec des trous dins’ poches
Mon fridge est vide pa’ce j’mange pus rien à part des bières et pis du pain

Chus ben assis dans mon salon, y mouille dehors su’l balcon
Et un jour il f’ra plus beau dans mon bol de toilette

Overall Meaning

The song, "de toilette" by Bernard Adamus, is a melancholic, introspective and humorous piece that explores the artist's troubled state of mind. The song starts with the singer observing that his mind feels like a prison, and he has a losing ticket from the lottery. He feels powerless and weak, like a matchstick, despite holding a position of comfort in his living room. The supper takes an unusually long time, and he is left to drink beer and stay upright. The artist sings about the overflowing toilet, referencing it as a metaphor for his troubled state of mind.

The second verse deepens the theme of hopelessness and despair. The singer can hardly stand his surroundings, and he experiences physical discomfort when he hears the radio's songs. The artist juxtaposes the cleaned-up imagery presented in pop culture against his own grimy reality. His pants are stained, and his fridge is empty; he only has beers and bread. The song ends at the same point as it started, with Bernard sitting by himself, alone and waiting for a better day.

Line by Line Meaning

Dans mon cerveau j’ai comme des barreaux
I feel trapped and locked up in my own mind

A’ec un billet perdant de la Loto
With a losing lottery ticket

Les pieds dans l’brun la tête dans’ marde
My feet are in the mud and my head is in a mess

Le souper qui traîne deux heures sa’ table
The dinner that takes two hours at the table

Boire des frettes pis me t’nir drette
Drinking beers and trying to stand straight

Me sens pas plus fort qu’une allumette
I don't feel any stronger than a matchstick

Chus ben assis dans mon salon, y mouille dehors su’l balcon
I'm sitting in my living room, it's raining outside on my balcony

Et un jour il f’ra plus beau dans mon bol de toilette
Someday it will be brighter in my toilet bowl

Un jour la bol, a va flusher
One day, the bowl will flush

M’a pouvoir rire de toé pis d’moé
I'll be able to laugh at you and me

Mais en attendant, c’est ben bouché
But for now, it's really clogged