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'.
What The Hell I Got
Michel Pagliaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're doin' something to me all the time
Too much and always stoned
I'm drinking baby, drinking all alone
Don't know what the hell I got
Whatever it is it's an awful lot
Hey, I'm gonna loose control
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Hey baby mind is blown
Never ever want to answer the phone
Time and time again I've tried
But someone answers and I know he lies
Don't know what the hell I got
Whatever it is it's an awful lot
Hey, I'm gonna loose control
From my liver to my very soul
I don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, no
I don't want to be lonely, lonely without love
Suitcases in my hand
Packing baby, packing all I can
Tunes rolling in my head
Make me think of all the things you said
Don't know what the hell I got
Whatever it is it's an awful lot
Hey, I'm gonna loose control
From my liver to my very soul
I don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, no
I don't want to be lonely, lonely without love
Don't know what the hell I got
Whatever it is it's an awful lot
Hey, I'm gonna loose control
From my liver to my very soul
I don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, no
I don't want to be lonely, lonely without love
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Without love
Without love
Hmmm, without love
Yeah, yeah, without love
Hmmm, without love
The song "What the Hell I Got" by Michel Pagliaro is a classic rock tune that is about the debilitating effects of love and alcohol on the human mind and soul. The song's opening verses paint a picture of a man who cannot get his lover out of his mind, even when he is alone and drunk. He is trapped in his own thoughts and feels like he is spiraling out of control. The chorus of the song expresses his confusion about the intensity of these emotions and leaves him feeling lost and "without love."
The second verse describes the man's attempts to disconnect from his lover and his destructive behavior. He tries to avoid answering the phone because he suspects that his lover is cheating on him. The lyrics suggest that he knows he should leave the relationship, but he is so addicted to the intense emotions it brings that he cannot bring himself to do it. The final verse suggests that the man is finally ready to leave his lover and move on, but he is still tormented by the powerful emotions that he feels, and he is unsure if he can find love without them.
Overall, "What the Hell I Got" is a poignant and powerful exploration of the ways that love and addiction can intersect and control our lives. It speaks to the deep human desire for connection and the fear of being alone, even when that connection is toxic and destructive.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey baby on my mind
I'm constantly thinking about my significant other.
You're doin' something to me all the time
My significant other affects me emotionally all the time.
Too much and always stoned
I'm consuming too much alcohol and always intoxicated.
I'm drinking baby, drinking all alone
I'm drinking alone in attempt to cope with my feelings.
Don't know what the hell I got
I'm unsure about what I have in my life.
Whatever it is it's an awful lot
Whatever I have, it's a lot to handle.
Hey, I'm gonna loose control
I'm losing the ability to control myself.
From my liver to my very soul
My entire being is affected by my loss of control.
Hey baby mind is blown
I'm overwhelmed and confused.
Never ever want to answer the phone
I'm avoiding communication with others.
Time and time again I've tried
I've attempted to fix the situation multiple times.
But someone answers and I know he lies
But whoever answers the phone is lying to me.
I don't want to be lonely, no, no, no, no, no
I don't want to feel isolated and without companionship.
Suitcases in my hand
I'm preparing to leave.
Packing baby, packing all I can
I'm packing as much as I'm able to take with me.
Tunes rolling in my head
I'm thinking about music that reminds me of my significant other.
Make me think of all the things you said
The music brings to mind memories of things my significant other said to me.
I don't want to be lonely, lonely without love
I don't want to feel alone and unloved.
Without love
Being without love is causing my current emotional state.
Contributed by Chase G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@stevekish2717
This track is fantastic! So simple, so perfect. Pags rocks!
@jeffmadden8589
I live in WNY so I tune into radio stations from Canada. I heard this for the first time on Boom 97.3 last night driving around. I came home and pulled it up on YouTube and listened to it a half dozen times. This is a REALLY good song! I was born in 1963 and lived in WNY almost all of my life and sadly never heard this song or the artist. Huge thumbs up!
@mckessa17
Boom has been kicking ass lately. They use to play old geezer music but my guess is the geezers are mostly in a pine box so on to the next generation
@stephenkawai4706
He's playing in Quebec City this weekend!
@jordan_strasser
i was just listening to 91.7 maybe? i live in WNY too and we heard another song by michel pagliaro and my fad told me to look up this one. it’s great!
@maasp8489
We're contempories. I grew up in Montreal listening to him. "Hey I'm going to lose control..." 🎵🎶
@genki2genki
Born the same year but grew up in Ontario, so am very familiar with this great song. Will never get tired of it or his other hits. Hell of a guy, Pagliaro.
@waynejohanson1083
I consider this to be a Canadian Classic.
@robertlee4172
The sound track of my youth in Montreal. This brings me back to the blistering hot summers in Rosemont, St. Leonard and Anjou. Listening to the radio of my dad's truck on the way to Terrebonne to make a delivery. Waiting for the day I can return for a visit.
@hawkcob6349
As a kid growing up in Montreal in the 70’s, thank you for sharing that memory! This song brings me back to a better time 😊