Pagliaro (or simply 'Pag') performed at most Quebec rock venues, across Canada in 1977, and in Europe in 1976, 1977, and 1979. He set up his own recording studio where he produced the LPs of Walter Rossi and others. He recorded Bamboo there in 1981 (Trans-Canada TMC-1005), certain songs of which were revived in 1990 in TV commercials. He then left for France where he worked with the singer Jacques Higelin, among others. After five years of exile, he returned to Quebec, producing several hits, including 'Les Bombes' and 'Dangereux'. In 1987, he was chosen as David Bowie's opening act at Montreal's Olympic Stadium. He made the albums Avant (1987, Aquarius AQR-547) and Sous peine d'amour (1988, Alert 281009-1/Audiogram AD-10038), one song of which 'L'Espion' reached the top of the chart. In the fall of 1988, he again performed with Higelin at the Spectrum in Montreal as part of the Francofolies.
A Toronto performance brought this observation from Jymn Parrett: 'Even without the trademark sunglasses, Michel Pagliaro remains inaccessible. Black stud leathers compete with disdainful sneer. Slithering, pounding, almost never smiling, Pagliaro the lizard king du monde onstage delivers state of art rock & roll without nice-guy pretensions.' As for Hélène de Billy, she has written of the 'new Pag': 'At one time, it was believed that Michel Pagliaro would become an international rock star. Then he disappeared, long enough to become a true artist'.
Dock Of The Bay
Michel Pagliaro Lyrics
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I'll be sitting till the evening comes
Watching the ships roll in
Then I'll watch'em roll away again
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh ooh, sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time
Headed for the Frisco bay
Cause I had nothing to live for
Looks like nothing gonna come my way
Oh! Sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh! oh! sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time
Ooh, looks like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do, no
So I guess I'll remain the same
Sitting here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
Two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home
Oh! Sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time, hum
Ooh, looks like nothing's gonna change
Everything still remains the same
I can't do what ten people tell me to do, no
So I guess I'll remain the same
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Wasting time, hum
The lyrics of Michel Pagliaro's song "Dock of the Bay" are about a man who has left his home in Georgia and has come to the San Francisco Bay with nothing to live for. He spends his days sitting on the dock, watching the ships roll in and out, and wasting time. He notes that nothing seems to change, and he can't do what ten people tell him to do. In other words, he's stuck in his life, and feels powerless to change it.
The song reflects the sense of aimlessness and isolation that many people experience at some point in their lives. The image of sitting on the dock of the bay, watching the world go by, invites us to consider our own sense of direction and purpose in life. The singer is clearly struggling with a sense of emptiness and despair, but there's also a sense of resignation and acceptance in his tone. He knows that his life is not ideal, but he seems to have given up on trying to change it.
Overall, Michel Pagliaro's "Dock of the Bay" is a poignant reflection on the human condition, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in the morning sun
I am sitting and enjoying the warmth of the morning sunlight.
I'll be sitting till the evening comes
I will remain seated here until the evening arrives.
Watching the ships roll in
I am observing the arrival of boats at the dock.
Then I'll watch'em roll away again
I will also watch the boats go away from the dock.
Sitting on the dock of the bay
I am sitting on the wooden platform by the side of the bay.
Watching the tide roll away
I am observing the ocean's tide as it moves farther away from the shore.
Ooh ooh, sitting on the dock of the bay
I am sitting on the dock, and this fact makes me feel soothed and happy.
Wasting time
I am spending time aimlessly without doing anything productive or useful.
I left my home in Georgia
I departed from my residence in Georgia.
Headed for the Frisco bay
I was on my way to the Frisco Bay.
Cause I had nothing to live for
I did not have any purpose or hope left in my life.
Looks like nothing gonna come my way
It seems that nothing positive or fortunate will happen to me.
Oh! Sitting on the dock of the bay
Once again, I am sitting contentedly on the dock of the bay.
Watching the tide roll away
I am continuing to observe the tide as it moves away from the shore.
Ooh! oh! sitting on the dock of the bay
I am feeling happy and peaceful while sitting here.
Wasting time
Once again, I am spending my time purposelessly.
Ooh, looks like nothing's gonna change
It seems that nothing is going to improve or alter my situation.
Everything still remains the same
My circumstances and surroundings are unchanged and unvarying.
I can't do what ten people tell me to do, no
Even if ten individuals ordered me to complete a task, I would not be able to do so.
So I guess I'll remain the same
Therefore, I assume that I will continue to be the same person I always have been.
Sitting here resting my bones
I am relaxing and taking a break from moving or working.
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
However, I remain unhappy and unable to shake off my feelings of isolation.
Two thousand miles I roamed
I journeyed two thousand miles to arrive at this location.
Just to make this dock my home
My intention was only to make this dock my permanent residence.
Wasting time, hum
Once again, I am spending my time idly.
Sitting on the dock of the bay
I am happily occupying myself by sitting on the dock of the bay.
Watching the tide roll away
I continue to contemplate the movement of the ocean's tide as it drifts further away from the shore.
Sitting on the dock of the bay
Again, I am sitting on the wooden platform by the side of the bay.
Wasting time, hum
Once again, I am spending my time aimlessly and without purpose.
Writer(s): Otis Redding, Steve Cropper
Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.