In 1975, after a failed stint at managing & relaunching the image of the notoriously hard living and chaotic band the New York Dolls, Malcolm nurtured the formation of one of the most infamous punk bands in history, The Sex Pistols. He became their manager, and controlled their contracts, as well as most importantly to him, their image in the media. The venture ended in a disastrous US tour, and a film called "The Great Rock And Roll Swindle" that featured McLaren, and glorified his untraditional Situationist PR approach and manipulative Svengali-esque role in the band's career.
In the '80s, after the Sex Pistols had long broken up, Malcolm became the manager of another band, Adam and the Ants which veered away from punk's coarse format via new romantic pirate garb and poly rhythmic African style drumming. When Adam Ant rebelled and left the band, Malcolm repackaged the musicians with a 14 year old Anglo/Burmese girl named Annabella Lwin to form the band Bow Wow Wow. He soon used his headline making skills to propel the band and their underage lead singer to the top of the charts with a nude album cover scandal.
In the early 1980's, Malcolm began producing his own records, beginning with the hits "Buffalo Gals" and "Double Dutch" from the groundbreaking 1983 album "Duck Walk" which used NYC hip hoppers and scratch DJ's The World Famous Supreme Team, as its foundation. Future members of Art of Noise performed on, produced, and/or jointly composed various tracks. He next turned to opera, masterminding a pop adaptation of "Madam Butterfly" on the album "Fans" using an assortment of female vocalists, and skilled musician Robby Kilgore on the tracks.
McLaren has released numerous other albums and tracks since, including contributions to the movie soundtracks of Carry On Columbus, and Kill Bill 2, but his musical career peaked with his 1980's works. McLaren's original "Double Dutch" era material has since been reappropriated and sampled by sucessful artists including Mariah Carey, Eminem, Amerie and De La Soul.
In his later years, McLaren occasionally contributed to newspapers and magazines, directed and produced films and appeared on British reality television programmes. He died on the morning of 8 April 2010, following a battle with cancer.
Père Lachaise
Malcolm McLaren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain′t got no rock 'n roll
Ain′t got the means to make a scene
Everybody pees on Paris, watch me now
There's no doubt
In Paris yeah!
There's a girl I dream of seeing everywhere
Up against the walls
Voices scream a map of feelings
Everybody loves a Paris lost somehow
There′s no doubt
That ruins yeah
And places to daydream but something′s in the air
Drifting through these landscapes of love
Listening to a voice from above
Wondering who she's thinking of
In moments of love
One two three four
On familiar weekends
Never changing in the ruins that you saw before
There′s no doubt
In Paris yeah!
There's a girl I dream of seeing everywhere
On countless walls
Thousands of mouths
Paris embarrasses, encourages and vanishes
Right through that door
There′s no doubt
That ruins yeah
Are places to daydream but something's in the air
Drifting through these landscapes of love
Listening to a voice from above
This is a place where you can find
Many more of my kind
Drifting through these landscapes of love
Listening to a voice from above
Wondering who she′s thinking of
Ain't got the means to make a scene
Everybody pees on Paris, watch me now
There's no doubt
That ruins yeah
Are places to daydream but something′s in the air
Drifting through these landscapes of love
Listening to a voice from above
This is a place where you can find
Many more of my kind
Drifting through these landscapes of love
Listening to a voice from above
Wondering who she′s thinking of
The lyrics to Marilyn McLaren’s “Pere Lachaise” give us a dreamy narrative of walking through the cemeteries of Paris. The song begins with reference to Marilyn Monroe, who despite being an iconic figure in popular culture, doesn’t have a connection to rock 'n roll. The singer then references how everybody has something to say about Paris and how he is just adding his voice to the hubbub. In the next verse, the singer describes a girl whom he sees everywhere and how he could find her against the walls in Paris. He talks about the voices screaming while providing a map of feelings. The chorus repeats the idea that there is something to be found in ruins, in the dreamlike ambiance that Paris can provide. The song ends with the singer wondering who the girl he has seen everywhere is thinking of.
The song reveals a few things about the city of Paris, from the Cimetière du Père Lachaise, where Jim Morrison and other prominent figures were buried, to the environment of Paris that can inspire artists, writers, and musicians. Lesser-known figures buried in Paris come to mind as well, with people like Marcel Proust or Oscar Wilde mentioned explicitly in the song. There is a bittersweet nature to the city that the lyrics capture, with feelings of nostalgia, loss, and yearning. Overall, the song is a bit surreal and dreamy, and the chorus underlines the idea that there is something special about Paris in the way it inspires people, despite its state of decay.
Line by Line Meaning
Marilyn Monroe
The singer is invoking the image of Marilyn Monroe, a symbol of glamour and beauty that contrasts with the grittiness of the setting of the song.
Ain′t got no rock 'n roll
The singer is admitting they lack the coolness and energy associated with rock music.
Ain′t got the means to make a scene
The singer lacks the resources or connections to create a sensation and influence others.
Everybody pees on Paris, watch me now
The artist is challenging the negative opinions that some people have about Paris, and wants to prove them wrong by making their own impression.
There's no doubt
In Paris yeah!
Paris is a special place for the artist, and they feel strongly about its allure despite its flaws.
There's a girl I dream of seeing everywhere
This way, that way
Up against the walls
The singer is infatuated with a mysterious woman they imagine in different contexts, and feels the city around them is part of their romantic fantasies.
Voices scream a map of feelings
Everybody loves a Paris lost somehow
The singer hears people express their emotions in different ways in Paris, and feels there's a universal appeal in the city's past and melancholy aura.
That ruins yeah
And places to daydream but something's in the air
Paris is a city with a lot of history and interesting places, but there's also something ambiguous and atmospheric that the artist can't quite put their finger on.
Drifting through these landscapes of love
Listening to a voice from above
Wondering who she's thinking of
The artist is moving through the city with a sense of wonder and mystery, listening to their own inner voice and wondering about the woman they're attracted to.
One two three four
On familiar weekends
Never changing in the ruins that you saw before
The artist is used to their routine and the same surroundings in Paris, and feels comfortable in the familiarity of those places, even if they're run-down or abandoned.
On countless walls
Thousands of mouths
Paris embarrasses, encourages and vanishes
Right through that door
Paris is a city of contradictions and surprises, with many voices and messages that can either embarrass, motivate or distract the singer, but they also feel drawn to explore more of it.
This is a place where you can find
Many more of my kind
The artist feels that Paris attracts people like them, who are searching for something undefined or looking for a sense of belonging.
Writer(s): M Mclaren, L Gorman, D Makaga
Contributed by Gavin E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kktubelt
Every weekend from when I was 3 to when I was about 8, I would hear this album as my parents and I would drive from Manhattan to Stratton, VT in our old white pontiac. I stopped listening to it, but every time I hear it, it brings back memories. This is the music of my childhood (though I'm only 16 now).
@ronnymexico23
Thanks for creating this wonderful video. While studying in Paris in '84-'85 I lived just down the street from Pere Lachaise. Malcolm's music and your images bring back some very fond memories. I picked up the 2-disc set at a used record and disc shop and LOVE the dubs!
@jeanandbilly
Beautiful song! Thanks for pointing it out. I must get this album. Good work on the video. Thanks for sharing.
@AnthonyJEL
I absolutely agree!! Finally someone who gets it..doesnt get better than this: brilliant.
@Kaastorp
Marvellous, exciting, unique!
@Shellback41
Been listening to this album for about 10 years now...bought it for my wife...sometimes makes great bedtime 'listening'. Great vid but would've been even better with more Pere Lachaise images. : )
@Shellback41
RIP Malcolm...you changed things and got the youth of sterile 70s Britain to jump up off their arses and grab something good for themselves...We'll miss you!
@ArunasAndriulaitis
Very nice music, thanks for posting this video :)
@trancis36
I had this Album but it got stolen... I need to find it again... Anybody with a link would be greatly appreciated. RIP Malcolm . <3
@Scrollero
Thank you Malcolm for giving me.. My Favorite Song..