[see Jacques Offenbach for the French classical composer]

Offenbach… Read Full Bio ↴[see Jacques Offenbach for the French classical composer]

Offenbach is a Canadian blues rock band formed in Quebec in 1969 by Gerry Boulet, Michael Lamonthe, Jr., and Wezo. The band signed with the independent Barclay label in 1972 and released the French album Offenbach Soap Opera. Four years later, A&M provided a record deal and released the band's self-titled album in 1977. Also released that year was Never Too Tender and another self-titled LP. Lamonthe and Wezo left around that time and were replaced by Pierre Lavoie and Norman Kerr (though Kerr left soon after). In 1979, Offenbach recorded Traversion and added more new members, Breen LeBoeuf and John McVale. Four more studio albums followed — En Fusion (1980), Tonnedebrick (1983), Live a Fond D'Train (1984) and Rockorama (1985) — before the band split up in 1986. Recorded live in Montreal, the Offenbach album, Le Dernier Show, appeared in 1986. Gerry Boulet recorded two solo albums, Presque 40s in 1984 and Rendezvous Doux in 1988.

n 1996, McGale, Gravel and Leboeuf reunited as Offenbach Inc. for a reunion tour. Due to Boulet's death, they selected Martin Deschamps, who had recently won Quebec's L'Empire des futures stars competition, as the band's new vocalist. They toured extensively for two years, and released a greatest hits compilation in 1999. A second volume of hits followed in 2002.

In 2005, the band released Nature, which consisted of acoustic versions of their classic hits. It also includes one new song "L'amour est cruel" (Love is cruel). The music was written by Gravel in the 1980s and the words were later added by Deschamps. A concert at Montrteal's Bell Center on April 1, 2005, marked the 25th anniversary of Offenbach's first Forum show.

In 2018, Offenbach released Renaissance the first disc of new material in 33 years.

À la porte du bonheur
Offenbach Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Partir un matin
À la porte du bonheur
Beau comme un chérubin
Je veux être ton détonnateur
Faire sautrer toutes les frontières
Pour avoir la saint’ paix
Et ramasser toutes nos misères
Se grandir dans l’univers

S’organiser de notre mieux
Attiser le feu
Revenir de loin
Pour être à la même heure
Manger au festin
À tabl’ du bonhomme sept heures
S’amuser sur notre boule ronde
Jouer au polo à l’appolo
Jusqu’au septième ciel et puis plus haut
Recouvrir l’enveloppe de notre coeur
Des ailes de notre liberté
Et pouvoir rêver
En préparant le paradis
Celui qu’on nous a volé
Au nom d’une moralité
Inviter nos frères humains
À soutenir nos lendemains
D’une prière d’amour
Partir un matin
À la porte du bonheur

Beau comme un chérubin
Je veux être ton détonnateur

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Offenbach's song À la porte du bonheur speak of wanting to depart one morning and head towards the door of happiness. The singer describes himself as beautiful as a cherub and yearns to be the trigger of his partner's happiness. They want to break down all the barriers in their way and find peace while collecting all their miseries. The song also emphasizes the importance of personal growth and organization while having fun and enjoying life.

The lyrics also discuss overcoming moral oppression and reclaiming the paradise that was stolen from them. The singer wishes to invite their fellow humans to support each other and pray for love to strengthen their futures. Through this journey towards happiness, they hope to pave the way for a liberated life filled with dreams and hope.

The song emphasizes the importance of finding peace amidst chaos and believing in oneself. The journey towards happiness is not always easy, but one must be determined to organize their life and ignite the fire within themselves to overcome their struggles. The song also highlights the importance of spreading love and support to our fellow humans.

Line by Line Meaning

Partir un matin
To leave one morning

À la porte du bonheur
At the door of happiness

Beau comme un chérubin
Beautiful like a cherub

Je veux être ton détonnateur
I want to be your detonator

Faire sauter toutes les frontières
To blow up all the borders

Pour avoir la sainte paix
To have holy peace

Et ramasser toutes nos misères
And gather all our miseries

Se grandir dans l'univers
To grow in the universe

S'organiser de notre mieux
To organize ourselves to the best of our ability

Attiser le feu
To stoke the fire

Revenir de loin
To come back from far away